title: Carotid atherosclerosis in patients with untreated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with systemic inflammation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and their correlation in newly diagnosed untreated patients with COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Post-bronchodilator spirometry, carotid artery IMT and blood tests were measured in patients with COPD (COPD group). Age, sex, body mass index, smoking status and smoking amount were compared with matched healthy subjects (non-COPD group). Participants taking medications and/or with a history  of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, COPD or cardiovascular disease were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 126 patients (COPD group 42, non-COPD group 84) were enrolled. The IMT and hsCRP of the COPD group were significantly higher than in the non-COPD group (P < 0.05).  The decrease in the forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV(1)/FVC) ratio and FEV(1) was significantly correlated with an increase in the hsCRP and IMT (P < 0.05); there was no correlation between the IMT and hsCRP (P = 0.152).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In newly diagnosed untreated patients with COPD, the carotid artery IMT and hsCRP were significantly higher than in healthy subjects. These findings suggest that systemic inflammation may play a potential role in preclinical atherosclerosis in COPD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: G Y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: In
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein