CAROTID ARTERIAL INTIMA-MEDIA THICKNESS AND RISK FACTORS IN ELDERLY CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE PATIENTS / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

To measure carotid intima media thickness(IMT) and to investigate the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and some major risk factors in elder uremic patients, a cross sectional study was carried out in 30unselected elder uremic patients (16on hemodialysis). Fasting blood sampling for serum lipids, BUN, creatinine, hemoglobin, and echo colour Doppler evaluation of common carotid arteries and heart were performed , BP was measured in all patients (before dialysis day in hemodialysis patients). Relationship between the results and miltifactoral regression analysis were also carried out. 17 patients(56 6%)had carotid IMTwhile 12 dialysis patients(75%) had it. 6patients (20%) had at least one plaque. A significant correlation was found in internal diameter of carotid arteries, IMT and blood vessel resistance between left and right carotid arteries. Carotid IMT had a close relationship with serum BUN, creatinine, cholesterol, systolic BP and heart ejection fraction. In multiple regression models, serum creatinine and cholesterol was significant and an independent predictor of the degree of carotid IMT. In elder uremic patients, carotid IMT is quite common. Elder age, hypertension, degree of renal insufficiency and dyslipidemia are associated with carotid atherosclerosis. Serum creatinine and cholesterol appears to serve as an independent predictor of carotid atherosclerosis, which contributes to the cardiovascular complications and high mortality in elder uremic patients.