title: Carotid intima-media thickness in spondyloarthritis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Accelerated atherosclerosis has become a major problem in rheumatic inflammatory disease. The aim here was to analyze carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients and correlate this with clinical parameters and inflammatory markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analytical study at Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, Evangelical University Hospital, Curitiba.
  
  
  METHODS
  IMTs (measured using Doppler ultrasonography) of 36 SpA patients were compared with controls. The IMT in SpA patients was associated with inflammatory markers, like erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI); and with clinical parameters, like axial or peripheral involvement, dactylitis, HLA B27, uveitis occurrence, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) and lipid profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean IMT in SpA patients was 0.72 ± 0.21 mm; in controls, 0.57 ± 0.13 mm (P = 0.0007). There were no associations with ESR, CRP, BASDAI or clinical data. In univariate analysis, greater IMT was seen in patients with longer disease duration (P = 0.014; Pearson R = 0.40; 95% confidence interval, CI = 0.06 to 0.65); higher triglycerides (P = 0.02; Spearman R = 0.37; 95% CI = 0.03 to 0.64); and older age (P = 0.0014; Pearson R 0.51; 95% CI = 0.21 to 0.72).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SpA patients have a higher degree of subclinical atherosclerosis than in controls, thus supporting clinical evidence of increased cardiovascular risk in rheumatic patients.
authors: Rheumatology and Echocardiography Units, Hospital Universitário Evangélico de Curitiba, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. tskare@onda.com.br
authors: Thelma Larocca
authors: TL
authors: Skare
authors: Guilherme Cortez
authors: GC
authors: Verceze
authors: André Augusto de
authors: AA
authors: Oliveira
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Perreto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D001368:Axis, Cervical Vertebra / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D025241:Spondylarthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
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