title: Nephrosclerosis and carotid atherosclerosis: lessons from kidney donor histology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Carotid artery intima media thickness (CA-IMT) measurement has been shown to be a safe and reproducible method to assess severity of atherosclerosis. The association between nephrosclerosis and systemic atherosclerosis is not clear. In this study, we investigated the association between CA-IMT and nephrosclerosis in a group of kidney transplant donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty seven potential kidney transplant donors were included. CA-IMT was measured by B-Mode ultrasonography. Kidney allograft biopsy samples were obtained during the transplantation operation and chronic glomerular, vascular and tubulointertitial changes were semiquantitatively scored according to the Banff classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 52 ± 12 years and 55% of the cases were younger than 55 years. Mean CA-IMT was 0.74 ± 0.19 mm and 48% had IMT values > 0.75 mm. Chronicty index was ≥5 in 55% of the cases. Chronicity index was higher in cases older than 55 years. Age and CA-IMT were significantly correlated with chronic vascular changes and chronicity index. CA-IMT > 0.75 mm had a 46% sensitivity and 90% specificity to predict nephrosclerosis. Positive and negative predictive values were 85% and 57%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aging leads to detrimental changes in every part of the vasculature of the human body. CA-IMT is correlated with the level of nephrosclerosis. Measurement of CA-IMT reflects nephrosclerosis especially in older patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Ege University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Erten
authors.forename: Ozkan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gungor
authors.forename: Sait
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Sureyya S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ozbek
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kircelli
authors.forename: Cuneyt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoscoskun
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toz
authors.forename: Gulay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Asci
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basci
authors.forename: Ercan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ok
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness / Q000592:standards*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006977:Hypertension, Renal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009400:Nephrosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014019:Tissue Donors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D003404:Creatinine