title: Evaluation of carotid artery intima-media complex thickness as a marker of vascular damage secondary to accelerated atherogenesis in progressive systemic sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery in patients with and without scleroderma; to verify a possible association with disease severity; to assess the relationship of intima-media thickness with known cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a case-control study, were selected 30 patients with scleroderma and 30 without the disease and matched according to age, sex and cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia. The age ranged from 17 to 79 years (mean 49). All patients underwent carotid artery evaluation by high-resolution vascular Doppler in order to measure the intima-medial thickness of the carotid 2 cm from the bifurcation. In all the analysis was considered the greatest value of intima-media thickness in right and left carotid arteries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample consisted of 30 patients, being 29 (96.67%) women and one man (3.3%). In this sample, 11/30 (36.67%) had high blood pressure, 5/30 (16.67%) had diabetes mellitus, 6/30 (20%) had dyslipidemia and 2/30 (6.67%) were smokers. Comparing the measure of the increased risk (maximum intima-media thickness between the left and right side), was obtained an average of 0.77 mm for group scleroderma and a value of 0.70 mm for the control group (p = 0.21). In assessing the association between disease severity and carotid intima-media thickness, was found no significant association (p= 0.925).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Was found a slight increase in intima-medial thickness of common carotid artery in patients with scleroderma but without statistical significance. Regarding the severity of the disease and intima-medial thickness of common carotid artery, there was no significant difference.
authors.affiliation: Evangelic Faculty of Paraná/ Evangelic University Hospital of Curitiba, PR, Brazil. rodrigolfe@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andretta
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Albers
authors.forename: Thelma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Skare
authors.forename: Jurandir Marcondes
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ribas-Filho
authors.forename: Nicolau Gregori
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Czeczko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D045743:Scleroderma, Diffuse / Q000150:complications*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult