title: Carotid intima media thickness as a marker of atherosclerosis in ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: Aim. Increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality have been observed in ankylosing spondylitis because of accelerated atherosclerosis. We measured carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) as a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis in this study. Methods. In this study 37 cases of AS and the same number of matched individuals were recruited. CIMT measurements were done using B-mode ultrasound. Disease activity was assessed using Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI), and Bath ankylosing spondylitis metrological index (BASMI) scores and C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels. Results. Mean age of the study groups was 29.43 ± 9.00 years. Average disease duration was 65.62 ± 54.92 months. Twenty-eight (75.68%) of cases were HLA B-27 positive. A significantly increased CIMT was observed in cases as compared to control group (0.62 ± 0.12 versus 0.54 ± 0.04; P < 0.001). CIMT in the cases group positively correlated with age (r = 0.357; P < 0.05), duration of disease (r = 0.549; P < 0.01), and BASMI (r = 0.337; P < 0.05) and negatively correlated with ESR (r = -0.295; P < 0.05). Conclusions. Patients of AS had a higher CIMT than those of the control group. CIMT correlated with disease chronicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, India.
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, MG Medical College, Jaipur, India ; Rheumatology Clinic, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, 33 Muktanand Nagar, Gopalpura Byepass, Lane in front of Amarnath Hospital, Jaipur 302018, India.
authors.forename: Renu
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2850-9290
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saigal
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, India.
authors.forename: Laxmikant
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, India.
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, India.
authors.forename: Rajat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhargava
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, India.
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agrawal