Ann Dermatol.  2015 Dec;27(6):702-708. 10.5021/ad.2015.27.6.702.

Evaluation of Arterial Stiffness in Patients with Behçet's Disease by Using Noninvasive Radiological Methods such as Intima-Media Thickness of the Carotid, Ankle-Brachial Pressure Index, Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring, and Their Relation to Serum Fetuin-A Levels: A Case-Control Study

• Uyar B
• Solak A
• Genc B
• Akyildiz M
• Sahin N
• Uyar IS
• Saklamaz A

• KMID: 2157446
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2015.27.6.702

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Behcet's disease (BD) is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory systemic vasculitis. Evidence for increased atherosclerosis in BD has been observed. The relation between cardiovascular risk factors and increased atherosclerosis in patients with BD is still controversial.
OBJECTIVE
We performed this study to evaluate arterial stiffness in patients with BD by using noninvasive radiological methods such as carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT), ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI), coronary artery calcium score (CACaS), and their relation to serum fetuin-A levels, which was recently found to be important in vascular calcification.
METHODS
This prospective study included 26 patients with BD and 25 control subjects. In all patients, the CIMT, ABPI, CACaS, and serum fetuin-A levels were examined.
RESULTS
The CIMT and CACaS were statistically higher and the ABPI was statistically lower in BD patients than in the control group. All p-values were <0.001. Positive correlations were found between the CACaS and CIMT, and negative correlations were found between the CACaS and ABPI. Although the values of fetuin-A were higher in BD, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.064). However, the correlations found between fetuin-A levels and CIMT and between fetuin-A levels and CACaS were significant.
CONCLUSION
The CIMT, CACaS, and ABPI are all useful in detecting structural and functional vascular damage in BD.

Keyword

Ankle brachial index; Alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein; Behcet's disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Carotid intima-media thickness

MeSH Terms

alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein*
Ankle Brachial Index
Atherosclerosis
Calcium*
Cardiovascular Diseases
Carotid Arteries
Carotid Intima-Media Thickness
Case-Control Studies*
Coronary Vessels*
Humans
Methods*
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
Systemic Vasculitis
Vascular Calcification
Vascular Stiffness*
Calcium
alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein

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