title: Evaluation of early atherosclerosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data regarding early atherosclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease are limited and conflicting results are present.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate serological and sonographical evidence of subclinical vascular involvement in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine patients with inflammatory bowel disease (20 Crohn's disease, and 19 ulcerative colitis patients) and 31 healthy controls were consecutively enrolled in the study. Flow mediated dilatation of the brachial artery and intima media thickness assessments of the common carotid artery were measured sonographically. Soluble CD40 ligand levels were evaluated. Crohn's disease activity index and modified Truelove-Witt's criteria were also noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age, sex distribution, serum lipids, smoking status, and intima media thickness of the common carotid artery were similar between the inflammatory bowel disease patients and controls (p > 0.05). However, both endothelium dependent and independent flow mediated dilatation values were significantly impaired in the inflammatory bowel disease group compared with healthy controls (p < 0.05). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and soluble CD40 ligand values were significantly increased in inflammatory bowel disease patients compared with controls (p < 0.05), and soluble CD40 ligand was negatively correlated with flow mediated dilatation (r = -0.3, p < 0.05). Flow mediated dilatation was significantly predicted from the concentrations of C-reactive protein and soluble CD40 ligand.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Functional atherosclerosis is present in inflammatory bowel disease before early structural changes occur in vasculature. Higher sCD40L may indicate worse vascular outcome for IBD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti, 35340 Izmir, Turkey. kayahancup@gmail.com
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kayahan
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sari
authors.forename: Nesat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cullu
authors.forename: Fahize
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yuksel
authors.forename: Serdal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akarsu
authors.forename: Yigit
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Goktay
authors.forename: Belkis
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Unsal
authors.forename: Hale
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akpinar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014664:Vasodilation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005996:Nitroglycerin