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Morphologic evidence of subclinical atherosclerosis obtained by carotid ultrasonography in patients with Behcet’s disease

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Abstract

Subclinical atherosclerosis can be demonstrated by measuring the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries by high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography (US). Endothelial injury appears a key event in the atherogenesis. Endothelial cell activation and/or injury are the characteristic features of Behçet’s disease (BD). In this study, we investigated morphologic evidence of subclinical atherosclerosis in the BD patients by using high-resolution B-mode US. Thirty-four patients with BD without arterial involvement (male/female 21/13; mean age 34.6±8.5 years) were individually matched to control subjects on the basis of age (within 2 years) and sex. Subjects with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, evidence of myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular disease, and patients on long-term steroids (i.e., >6 months) were excluded from the study. Mean IMT values of the right carotid arteries were 0.81±0.17 mm for patients with BD, and 0.54±0.13 mm for healthy controls (P<0.001). Mean IMT values of the left carotid arteries were 0.82±0.16 mm for patients with BD, and 0.55±0.12 mm for healthy controls (P<0.001). The overall prevalence of carotid atherosclerotic plaques was higher among the patients than the controls [prevalence of plaques were 17.6% (6/34) in BD patients and 0% in healthy controls, P<0.05]. In conclusion, our data indicate morphologic evidence of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with BD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Mehmet Akif Öztürk, Berna Göker & Seminur Haznedaroglu

  2. Department of Radiology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Suna O. Oktar

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Selman Ünverdi & Kadriye A. Reis

  4. Department of Rheumatology, Ministry of Health Etlik Ihtisas Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Kemal Üreten

  5. Uvea Department, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Gülten Sungur

  6. Department of Rheumatology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    A. Mesut Onat

  7. Ostim mahallesi 89. sokak, AK-84 sitesi, A-2 blok no:8, 06170, Yenimahalle, Ankara, Turkey

    Mehmet Akif Öztürk

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  1. Mehmet Akif Öztürk
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  2. Suna O. Oktar
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Correspondence to Mehmet Akif Öztürk.

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Öztürk, M.A., Oktar, S.O., Ünverdi, S. et al. Morphologic evidence of subclinical atherosclerosis obtained by carotid ultrasonography in patients with Behcet’s disease. Rheumatol Int 26, 867–872 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-005-0098-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-005-0098-8

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