title: Uric acid and high sensitive C-reactive protein are associated with subclinical thoracic aortic atherosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The detection of atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a marker of diffuse atherosclerotic disease. Hyperuricemia is a well-recognized risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. However, no data are available concerning the relationship between serum uric acid (UA) and subclinical thoracic aortic atherosclerosis. We aimed to investigate the association between thoracic aortic atherosclerosis and serum UA level.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 181 patients (mean age 46.3 ± 8 years) who underwent TEE for various indications. Four different grades were determined according to intima-media thickness (IMT) of thoracic aorta. UA and other biochemical markers were measured with an automated chemistry analyzer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TEE evaluation characterized thoracic aortic intimal morphology as Grade 1 in 69 patients, Grade 2 in 52 patients, Grade 3 in 31 patients, and Grade 4 in 29 patients. The highest UA level was observed in patients with Grade 4 IMT when compared with Grade 1 and 2 IMT groups (p<0.001 and p=0.014, respectively). UA levels in patients with Grade 3 and Grade 2 IMT were also higher than patients with Grade 1 IMT group (p<0.001, for all). In multiple linear regression analysis, IMT was independently associated with UA level (β=0.350, p<0.001), age (β=0.219, p=0.001), total cholesterol (β=-0.212, p=0.031), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (β=0.350, p=0.001), and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels (β=0.148, p=0.014).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Uric acid and hsCRP levels are independently and positively associated with subclinical thoracic atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Adana Numune Education and Research Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Adana, Turkey. drmugur@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gür
authors.forename: Durmuş Yıldıray
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Zafer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Elbasan
authors.forename: Gülhan Yüksel
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Kalkan
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yıldız
authors.forename: Zekeriya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Betül
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Özaltun
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Çaylı
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001018:Aortic Diseases; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014527:Uric Acid; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol