Common Carotid Artery Thickness in Chronic Kidney Disease

AIM:Previous studies showed that patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) > 2 dergee had increased intima-media thickness (IMT).We evaluate the relationship between IMT and parameters for renal function.METHODS: 130 subjects were examined -66 with CKD, 44 without CKD, as well as 20 healthy volunteers.The first group-patients with CKD were with creatinine clearance (CrCl) over 20 ml/min and below 90 ml/min.The second group included 44 pts.with normal renal function, CrCl > 90 ml/min.All examined patients with and without CKD had hypertension.The two groups were streamed into two subgroups: with and without vascular disease.To evaluate the renal function creatinine clearance was calculated in ml/min.IMT was measured in both common carotid artery (CCA) using high resolution sonography in all examined subjects.RESULTS: CCA IMT increased in pts.with CKD and was > 0.75 ( 0.76 ± 0.14 v.s contols 0.59 ± 0.10) Patients with vascular disease (VD) had higher IMT which increased significant when CKD with GFR < 90 ml/min was included (0.77 ± 0.06/0.81± 0.10, p < 0.05).Multiple regression analysis proved that renal function deterioration directly affected CCA IMT (R 2 =0.208, p=0.022). CONCLUSION:Increased IMT is presented in mild renal dysfunction.CKD -GFR< 90 ml/min could be an independent vascular risk factor.