title: C-reactive protein and carotid and femoral intima media thickness: predicting inflammation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  C-reactive protein (CRP) is a recognized marker of systemic inflammation. Its association with carotid and femoral intima media thickness (surrogate measures of atherosclerosis) may explain excess cardiovascular disease risk in hemodialysis patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the association between CRP and both carotid and femoral IMT in hemodialysis (HD) patients; to predict CRP in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present cross-sectional study is nested in the Sevelamer hydrochloride and ultrasound-measured femoral and carotid intima media thickness progression in end-stage renal disease (SUMMER) clinical trial. Carotid (common, internal, and bifurcation) and femoral arteries were visualized in B-mode ultrasonography. CRP was measured in serum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study cohort included 144 HD patients (39.5% female, mean age 67.8 ± 11.5 years). All measures of both carotid and femoral IMT were significantly positively associated with CRP. Subjects with a history of smoking or coronary revascularization had significantly higher CRP levels, while subjects treated with sevelamer hydrochloride had significantly lower CRP. CRP was significantly positively associated with serum phosphorus, calcium, alkaline phosphatase, and PTH, and significantly inversely associated with HDL and albumin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CRP is significantly positively associated with both femoral and carotid IMT. Treatment with sevelamer hydrochloride is associated with lower CRP in HD patients.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boaz
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chernin
authors.forename: Idit
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Zeev
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Katzir
authors.forename: Doron
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agbaria
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gal-Oz
authors.forename: Talia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weinstein
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011073:Polyamines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D000069603:Sevelamer; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D011073:Polyamines; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069603:Sevelamer