ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), which is a known indicator of cardiovascular risk and atherosclerosis, and uric acid level, which may be an easy marker for cardiovascular diseases due to its antioxidant and pro-oxidant properties in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated 77 hemodialysis patients. The mean CIMT of these patients was measured and recorded by Doppler ultrasonography. Patients were divided into two groups according to their serum uric acid levels. Correlation analysis and linear regression analysis were used to define the relationship between study parameters. FINDINGS: The mean CIMT levels in the normouricemic group and the hyperuricemic group were 0.95 ± 0.15 and 1.07 ± 0.15, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.001). There was a statistically significant and moderate linear correlation between serum uric acid level and mean CIMT (r = 0.402; p = 0.002). Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to identify variables that could independently affect the mean CIMT value. According to analysis, uric acid (p < 0.001), hypertension (p = 0.008), albumin (p = 0.029), and C-reactive protein (p = 0.042) were found independent risk factors for mean CIMT value. DISCUSSION: We found a significant relationship between serum uric acid level and CIMT, which indicates carotid atherosclerosis. Serum uric acid level is a low-cost laboratory parameter that can be measured in almost all laboratories, and it may be valuable in the hemodialysis patient group to identify patients at high risk of carotid atherosclerosis.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: In this study, the effect of the most superior point of patella-entrance of femoral trochlea distance ratio (SP-ET index) on chondromalacia patella (CP) was investigated with 2 reviewers. Material and methods: A total of 348 knees of 308 patients were analysed retrospectively with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patients with or without CP constituted the study and the control groups in this cross-sectional investigation. Two reviewers interpreted the dataset regarding the SP-ET index. This ratio was calculated as the distance between the most superior point of patella and the entrance of femoral trochlea (ß) divided by the patellar articular surface length (α). The relationship between the SP-ET index and CP was presented using independent samples T-tests, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to reveal the interobserver differences. Results: There was excellent agreement between the reviewers regarding α, ß, and SP-ET values (ICC was 0.971, 0.964, and 0.943, respectively). Higher SP-ET values were obtained for patients with CP, in comparison with patients without any chondral lesion (p < 0.001). A significant, positive, and moderate level of correlation was revealed between SP-ET measurements and CP grades for the total study population. Conclusions: SP-ET index showed high interobserver agreement and indicated a significant difference between patients with and without CP. Both reviewers' results indicated positive and significant correlation between the measured SP-ET values and different grades of CP for females, males, and the total study population.