Intima-media thickness is associated with inflammation and traditional cardiovascular risk factors in non-dialysis-dependent patients with chronic kidney disease.
BACKGROUND
Mortality due to cardiovascular causes is high in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Intima-media thickness (IMT) and inflammation are early atherosclerosis markers, although data are lacking about their association in the CKD non-dialysis-dependent (CKD-NDD) population. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between IMT, inflammation and other cardiovascular risk factors in such patients.


METHODS
CKD-NDD patients (n = 122) were subjected to measurements of carotid IMT and inflammatory marker levels in a cross-sectional study.


RESULTS
Mean patient age was 55.2 +/- 11.3 years (61.5% males). Median C-reactive protein (CRP) was 0.28 mg/dl (0.03-14.2). The median interleukin (IL)-6 count was 4.75 pg/ml (0.7-243), the mean adiponectin was 27.8 +/- 7.3 ng/ml and the mean IMT was 0.61 +/- 0.19 mm. Four (3.3%) patients had IMT above the normal range. IMT was higher in males (p < 0.001), patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min (p = 0.030), inflammation (p = 0.005) and higher IL-6 levels (p = 0.023). IMT was correlated with age (R = 0.538; p < 0.001), waist circumference (R = 0.235; p = 0.016), CRP (R = 0.191; p = 0.035) and systolic blood pressure (R = 0.181; p = 0.048). In a multiple regression analysis, the independent determinants of IMT were age (beta = 0.512; p < 0.001) and CRP levels (beta = 0.159; p = 0.041).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study demonstrated that although the IMT values were within the normal range, there was a clear association of IMT with age, as well as with inflammation in an asymptomatic CKD-NDD population.
Lemos
Marcelo M
MM
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Jancikic
Alessandra D B
AD
Sanches
Fabiana M R
FM
Christofalo
Dejaldo M
DM
Ajzen
Sérgio A
SA
Carvalho
Aluízio B
AB
Draibe
Sérgio A
SA
Canziani
Maria Eugênia F
ME
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology*