title: Early atherosclerosis in ulcerative colitis: cross-sectional case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the extent of early atherosclerosis in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients by measuring carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the correlation between CIMT, serum homocysteine level and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in UC.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 60 UC patients and 60 healthy controls. Individuals with risk factors for atherosclerosis were excluded from the study. Fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, HOMA-IR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum vitamin B12 and homocysteine levels were measured in all participants. CIMT was measured using a B-mode duplex imaging study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  UC patients had significantly higher CIMT than controls (P < 0.05). ESR, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR and serum homocysteine levels were also significantly higher in UC patients (P < 0.05). Pearson's correlation coefficient showed significant correlations between: (i) CIMT and patients' age, duration of UC, HOMA-IR, and homocysteine level (P < 0.05); (ii) serum homocysteine and duration of UC, fasting insulin level, HOMA-IR and CIMT (P < 0.01); (iii) HOMA-IR and age, duration of UC, serum homocysteine and CIMT (P < 0.01). Multi-regression models showed that serum homocysteine affects CIMT and duration of UC independently, whereas participants' age and duration of UC affects HOMA-IR independently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher CIMT might indicate subclinical atherosclerosis in UC patients. Patients' age, duration of UC, HOMA-IR and homocysteine levels are important factors associated with increased CIMT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Topiwala National Medical College and Bai Yamunabai Laxman Nair Hospital.
authors.forename: Samit S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Topiwala National Medical College and Bai Yamunabai Laxman Nair Hospital.
authors.forename: Dharmesh K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Topiwala National Medical College and Bai Yamunabai Laxman Nair Hospital.
authors.forename: Pravir A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gambhire
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Topiwala National Medical College and Bai Yamunabai Laxman Nair Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Ravi U
authors.initials: RU
authors.lastname: Varma
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Topiwala National Medical College and Bai Yamunabai Laxman Nair Hospital.
authors.forename: Qais Q
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: Contractor
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Topiwala National Medical College and Bai Yamunabai Laxman Nair Hospital.
authors.forename: Pravin M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Rathi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine
keywords: atherosclerosis; carotid intima media thickness; homocysteine; insulin resistance; ulcerative colitis