title: Evaluation of carotid intima-media thickness and carotid arterial stiffness in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adenotonsillar hypertrophy can produce cardiopulmonary disease in children. However, it is unclear whether adenotonsillar hypertrophy causes atherosclerosis. This study evaluated carotid intimamedia thickness and carotid arterial stiffness in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 40 children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy (age: 5-10 years) and 36 healthy children with similar age and body mass index. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and pulse pressure were measured in all subjects. Carotid intima-media thickness, carotid arterial systolic diameter, and carotid arterial diastolic diameter were measured using a high-resolution ultrasound device. Based on these measurements, carotid arterial strain, carotid artery distensibility, beta stiffness index, and elasticity modulus were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Carotid intima-media thickness was greater in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy (0.36±0.05 mm vs. 0.34±0.04 mm, P=0.02) compared to healthy controls. Beta stiffness index (3.01±1.22 vs. 2.98±0.98, P=0.85), elasticity modulus (231.39±99.23 vs. 226.46±83.20, P=0.88), carotid arterial strain (0.17±0.06 vs. 0.17±0.04, P=0.95), and carotid artery distensibility (13.14±3.88 vs. 12.92±3.84, P=0.75) were similar between children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy and the healthy controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study revealed increased carotid intima-media thickness in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. The risk of subclinical atherosclerosis may be higher in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Erzurum Region Training and Research Hospital, Erzurum, 25080, Turkey. nefrotik@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Çiftel
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Erzurum Training and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Berrin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.affiliation: Department of Ear, Nose, and Throat, Erzurum Training and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Günay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kozan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Erzurum Region Training and Research Hospital, Erzurum, 25080, Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.affiliation: Neonatal unit, Erzurum Training and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kahveci
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Erzurum Training and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ömer
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Kılıç
mesh_terms: D000234:Adenoids / Q000473:pathology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
keywords: adenotonsillar hypertrophy; carotid artery stiffness; carotid intima media thickness; subclinical atherosclerosis