title: Could there be an association between chronic brucellosis and endothelial damage?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study, we examined the effects of Brucella infection on endothelial dysfunction. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) measurement is indicator of the endothelial function, and abnormal values indicating endothelial dysfunction are accepted as the first stage of atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients who had been treated for acute brucellosis two years before, and who had had no relapses in the follow-up, were prospectively included in the study, along with 30 healthy individuals in the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While the highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) value was 2.42 ± 1.45 in the patient group, it was 1.72 ± 0.61 in the control group (p = 0.025). While the FMD value was 3.50 ± 1.58 in the patient group, it was 5.88 ± 1.88 in the control group (p < 0.001). While the percentage increase in FMD was 9.88 ± 4.92 in the patient group, it was 17.49 ± 6.3 in the control group (p < 0.001). It was observed that FMD value, the percentage increase in FMD, and basal radius were correlated with hs-CRP (r = -0.644, p < 0.001; r = - 0.558, p = 0.002; r = 0.444, p = 0.018, respectively). The carotid artery intima media thickness (IMT) value was found to be 0.61 ± 0.17 in the patient group and 0.49 ± 0.12 in the control group (p = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The abnormal FMD and IMT values observed in brucellosis patients might be an indicator of more frequent arterial dysfunction, increased cardiovascular risk, and atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey. drtogant@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Turhan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Togan
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ciftci
authors.forename: Hale
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Turan
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Narci
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gullu
authors.forename: Hande
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arslan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D002002:Brucella / Q000502:physiology*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000473:pathology*; D004727:Endothelium / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult