Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2002 Jun;45(6):1009-1015.

Carotid Intima Media Thickness (IMT) in Relation to Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Turner Syndrome

• Jeong KA
• Park KH
• Kim JY
• Song KY
• Ahn CW
• Bai SW
• Lee BS
• Cho DJ
• Song CH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to determine whether women with Turner syndrome have greater subclinical atherosclerosis and evaluate the relationship to risk factors for atherosclerosis.
METHODS
18 Women with Turner syndrome and 18 women as control group were measured the intima media thickness (IMT) of common carotid artery by B-mode ultrasound. We compared the IMT between cases and controls, and analyzed risk factors which affect the IMT.
RESULTS
There are no differences between the groups in age and body mass index (BMI). The height was shorter (147.8+/-7.9 vs 160.3+/-5.9, p<0.001) and the waist-hip ratio (WHR) was significantly increased in Turner syndrome (0.86+/-0.04 vs 0.78+/-0.04, p<0.001). Fasting blood sugar (FBS) (90.1+/-9.9 vs 79.4+/-4.4 mg/dl, p<0.001), fasting insulin (9.5+/-3.0 vs 4.7+/-1.0 IU/ml, p=0.009), total cholesterol (187.1+/-21.3 vs 154.8+/-21.8 mg/dl, p=0.014), and LDL (111.3+/-10.0 vs 82.8+/-16.4 mg/dl, p=0.009) were significantly higher in Turner syndrome. Compare to control, the IMT was significantly increased in Turner syndrome (0.61+/-0.09 vs 0.49+/-0.02 mm, p=0.002). In the analysis of correlation between the IMT and clinical & biochemical characteristics, Turner syndrome status, WHR, FBS and fasting insulin were significantly affecting factors (Coefficients of correlation: 0.720, p<0.001; 0.671, P<0.001; 0.445, p=0.020; 0.904, p<0.001).
CONCLUSION
These results suggested that women with Turner syndrome might have an increased risk of subclinical atherosclerosis and insulin resistance was most important risk factor.

Keyword

Turner syndrome; Intima media thickness (IMT); Atherosclerosis; Insulin resistance

MeSH Terms

Atherosclerosis*
Blood Glucose
Body Mass Index
Carotid Artery, Common
Carotid Intima-Media Thickness*
Cholesterol
Fasting
Female
Humans
Insulin
Insulin Resistance
Risk Factors
Turner Syndrome*
Ultrasonography
Waist-Hip Ratio
Blood Glucose
Cholesterol
Insulin