title: Increased pulse wave velocity and carotid intima-media thickness in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is associated with cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of our study was to determine whether carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), as surrogates of cardiovascular disease and arterial stiffness, are increased in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients with CTS and 40 gender- and age-matched controls underwent cf-PWV assessment, CIMT measurement, and nerve conduction study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CIMT and cf-PWV were increased significantly in patients with CTS. They correlated positively with median sensory and motor nerve distal latency. Whereas both CIMT and PWV related to CTS, only CIMT independently predicted CTS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is both increased pulse wave velocity and CIMT and a positive correlation between these parameters and median nerve sensory distal latency in patients with CTS. CTS appears to be associated with arterial stiffness and atherosclerotic burden, but the underlying mechanisms require further study.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Rize University, Islampaşa Mahallesi, 53100, Rize, Turkey. emredur@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Murtaza Emre
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Durakoğlugil
authors.forename: Yüksel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ciçek
authors.forename: Sinan Altan
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kocaman
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabri Balik
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kirbaş
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cetin
authors.forename: Turan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erdoğan
authors.forename: Aytun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Canga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology