title: The relationship between carotid intima media thickness and oxidative stress in asthmatic children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma and atherosclerosis are both chronic inflammatory diseases. The progression of the inflammation in asthmatic patients is known to be similar to the increased development of atherosclerosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to research the relationship between the difference in carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and oxidative stress together with difference in CIMT in asthmatic children and control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 84 subjects between 6-15 years of age who had been attending the Pediatric Allergy Unit of the Medical Faculty were included in this study. Asthmatic patients and a control group were evaluated by ultrasonography for measurements of CIMT and oxidative status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the asthmatic patient group, the CIMT was 0.48 +/- 0.06 mm (right side) and 0.44 +/- 0.05 mm (left side). In the control group it was 0.42 +/- 0.05 mm (right side) and 0.42 +/- 0.04 mm (left side). This difference is statistically significant (p < 0.0001, p = 0.019 respectively). In the asthmatic group a positive correlation was determined between the total oxidant status (TOS) value and the right and left CIMT (p = 0.007, r = 0.44 and p = 0.001, r = 0.50 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant correlation was determined between an increase in oxidative stress and CIMT in asthmatic children. This indicates that atherosclerosis, which is known as an adult disease, may start in childhood. These findings show that it might be beneficial for children who are being followed-up from a diagnosis of asthma to also be evaluated in respect of the development of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Harran University, Faculty of Medicine, Sanliurfa, Turkey. alpaycakmak@gmail.com
authors.forename: Alpay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cakmak
authors.forename: Dost
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zeyrek
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cece
authors.forename: Ozcan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D058426:Neointima / Q000276:immunology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000276:immunology; D010545:Peroxides; D012882:Skin Tests; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D010545:Peroxides; D007073:Immunoglobulin E