RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic glomerulonephritis(CGN) have several risk factors for atherosclerosis including hypertension, renal functional disturbance, and lipid abnormality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intima-media thickness of carotid arteries and its association with a number of known risk factors for atherosclerosis in patients with CGN. METHODS: Twenty four patients with CGN underwent B-mode ultrasound of the carotid arteries with 10 MHZ linear array probe. The intima-media thickness(IMT) was measured at two sites of far(posterior) wall of both common carotid artery and bifurcation, and the incidence of atherosclerotic plaque was examined. According to renal function, patients with CGN were divided into two groups, one group with normal renal function and the other group with decreased renal function. Normal control consisted of 36 healthy persons. RESULTS: Intima-media thickness of left bifurcation of carotid artery in CGN group with decreased renal function was significantly thicker than those of CGN group with normal renal function and normal control group(p<0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that increased intima-media thickness of carotid artery in CGN group was positively correlated to only age. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that intima- media thickness of carotid artery in patients with CGN is thicker as renal function decrease and other risk factors of atherosclerosis as well as age may influence intima-media thickness of carotid arteries.