Key result
Ulcerative colitis in remission is linked to ~20% higher carotid intima-media thickness vs controls.
Why the study?
Chronic inflammation in ulcerative colitis may predispose patients to atherosclerosis, but the relationship between UC and subclinical atherosclerosis is not well defined.
Does ulcerative colitis increase carotid intima-media thickness and the risk of cardiovascular complications compared to healthy controls?
Case-Control (n=125)
Does ulcerative colitis increase carotid intima-media thickness and the risk of cardiovascular complications compared to healthy controls?
Patients with ulcerative colitis in remission have significantly higher carotid intima-media thickness compared to healthy controls, indicating an increased risk of subclinical atherosclerosis.
Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by chronic relapsing-remitting inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The chronic inflammatory process may predispose to atherosclerosis. The aim of the study was to assess the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and its relation to subclinical atherosclerosis and to follow up cardiovascular complications in patients with UC. Methods: 83 patients with proven UC in remission were enrolled in the study. 42 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were taken. Patients with known risk factors for atherosclerosis were excluded from the study. Baseline blood investigations along with C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and fasting lipid profile were done. CIMT was measured using B-mode Doppler imaging study. Results: The mean age of the UC patients was 37.06 ± 14.87 years. Left-sided colitis (45.8%) was the commonest type of presentation according to the extent of the disease. Mean CIMT (0.55 ± 0.17) was significantly higher in UC patients when compared to mean CIMT (0.46 ± 0.13) in the control group (p = 0.002). In Pearson correlation analysis, age, ESR, and CRP were positive and significantly correlated with CIMT. Multiple linear regression analysis (R2 = 0.18, p = 0.0026) revealed that age and CRP were significant independent predictors of mean CIMT. On following up for 6 months, 4 patients with UC had complications in the form of venous thrombosis. Conclusion: CIMT is a simple, noninvasive, reliable and objective auxiliary vascular parameter of structural alteration in UC patients.
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Kothari et al. (2019) conducted a case-control in Ulcerative colitis (n=125). Ulcerative colitis vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Mean carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) (p=0.002). Ulcerative colitis in remission was associated with a significantly higher mean carotid intima-media thickness compared to healthy controls (0.55 vs 0.46, p=0.002).
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