title: Increased expression of markers of early atherosclerosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies documented an increased cardiovascular risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our study aimed at investigating the prevalence of intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries and the arterial stiffness indices as markers of early atherosclerosis in young IBD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 68 consecutive IBD patients, and 38 matched healthy controls less than 45years old (median age 31.6±8.1years). Clinical and demographic features, cardiovascular risk factors, history of cardiovascular events, concomitant therapies were registered on a dedicate database. Carotid IMT was evaluated by using high resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Arterial stiffness was assessed by measurement of carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) and Augmentation Index (AIx).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total cholesterol (P<0.013) and LDL-cholesterol (P<0.019) levels were significantly lower in IBD patients compared to controls. Carotid IMT was higher in IBD than in controls (P<0.047), but there was no statistically significant difference among Crohn's Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC) patients. Moreover, PWV and AIx were significantly higher in patients as compared to controls (P<0.006 and P<0.004 respectively). No medication seemed to affect vascular measurements, though stiffness parameters were significantly higher in patients treated with 5-ASA (11.9 (9.7) vs 18.2 (10.2), P<0.021), suggesting a lack of efficacy of 5-ASA in protecting IBD patients from early atherogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young IBD patients show an increase in subclinical markers of atherosclerosis. Future studies need to address whether these markers result in an increased risk of cardiovascular events in these patient.
authors: Gastroenterology and Hepatology Section, DIBIMIS, University of Palermo School of Medicine, Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: marica.cappello61@gmail.com.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Cappello
authors: Gastroenterology and Hepatology Section, DIBIMIS, University of Palermo School of Medicine, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Licata
authors: Gastroenterology and Hepatology Section, DIBIMIS, University of Palermo School of Medicine, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Vincenza
authors: V
authors: Calvaruso
authors: Gastroenterology and Hepatology Section, DIBIMIS, University of Palermo School of Medicine, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Ivana
authors: I
authors: Bravatà
authors: Gastroenterology and Hepatology Section, DIBIMIS, University of Palermo School of Medicine, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Aiello
authors: Internal Medicine and Cardioangiology, DIBIMIS, University of Palermo School of Medicine, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Daniele
authors: D
authors: Torres
authors: Internal Medicine and Cardioangiology, DIBIMIS, University of Palermo School of Medicine, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Vittoriano
authors: V
authors: Della Corte
authors: Internal Medicine and Cardioangiology, DIBIMIS, University of Palermo School of Medicine, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Antonino
authors: A
authors: Tuttolomondo
authors: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Italy.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Perticone
authors: Internal Medicine and Cardioangiology, DIBIMIS, University of Palermo School of Medicine, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Licata
authors: Gastroenterology and Hepatology Section, DIBIMIS, University of Palermo School of Medicine, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Craxì
authors: Gastroenterology and Hepatology Section, DIBIMIS, University of Palermo School of Medicine, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Calogero
authors: C
authors: Cammà
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D019804:Mesalamine; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Arterial stiffness; Carotid intima-media thickness; Early atherosclerosis; IBD