Evaluation of Carotis Intima Media Thicknesses in Varying Degrees of Renal Failure

OBJECTIVE: The most frequent reason of increased cardiovascular risk in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is atherosclerosis. In our study, carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), an indirect indicator of atherosclerosis, were evaluated in varying degrees of renal failure. MATERIAL and METHODS: The study was conducted with four groups: Hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, pre-dialysis and control group. Age, gender, body mass index (BMI), smoking history, blood pressures of all groups; primary kidney disease, co-morbidities, dialysis duration in the patient groups were recorded. CIMT was measured in all groups by the same radiologist in addition to the hematological and biochemical tests. The groups were compared regarding laboratory and radiological fi ndings. RESULTS: With intergroup comparisons; the only statistically signifi cant difference was between the predialysis and the control groups. With correlation analysis; CIMT was found to be positively correlated with age, uric acid and hsCRP levels. It was seen with multivariate analysis that the main determinant of CIMT was age (B=0.006; beta=0.513; p=0.013). CONCLUSION: The correlation between stage of CKD and CIMT, which is an indirect indicator of atherosclerosis, has not been shown in the present study. However, its relationship with age and hsCRP showed that the age-infl ammation-atherosclerosis interrelationship accepted in the general population is also applicable to uremic patients.