title: Extra-medial thickness of carotid artery in patients with Behçet's disease: evaluation of atherosclerotic vessel wall changes with a novel carotid artery ultrasound index.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction are the characteristic features of Behçet's disease (BD). We researched carotid extra-medial thickness (cEMT), a novel ultrasound parameter for atherosclerotic vessel wall changes, and carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), a widely accepted marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, in patients with BD, and we evaluated the relationship between these two parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 31 patients with BD were matched to 26 control subjects based on age, gender, and major cardiovascular risk factors. Laboratory parameters, including lipid profile, were measured for both patients and controls. B-mode ultrasonography was used to assess the cEMT and cIMT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in the cEMT values between the patients with BD and the control group (P = 0.90). cIMT in the BD group was significantly higher compared with the control group (P = 0.021). There was a significant positive correlation between cIMT and cEMT (r = 0.585, P = 0.001). Both cEMT and cIMT were positively correlated with age and the presence of arthritis. There was linear correlation with sedimentation, C-reactive protein, and cEMT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate both cEMT and cIMT in BD. This study presents morphological evidence of subclinical atherosclerosis in terms of cIMT. Although there was no significant increment in cEMT, it has the potential to assess endothelial dysfunction in BD. Further studies are required to confirm this finding.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Dermatology, Medical Faculty, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey. ozbetul@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Betul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sereflican
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical Faculty, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey.
authors.forename: Betul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kizildag
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical Faculty, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sıddıka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Halicioglu
authors.affiliation: Departments of Dermatology, Medical Faculty, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nadir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goksugur
authors.affiliation: Departments of Dermatology, Medical Faculty, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bengu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tuman
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical Faculty, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dagistan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein