La ecografía carotídea es útil para predecir enfermedad coronaria y mortalidad en pacientes en hemodiálisis / Prognostic value of carotid intima media thickness and wall plaques in hemodialysis patients

Introducción: La enfermedad cardiovascular es la principal causa de muerte en los pacientes urémicos en hemodiálisis (HD). La ecografía carotídea es una herramienta sencilla y no invasiva para conocer el estado aterosclerótico de los pacientes. Objetivo: Conocer las asociaciones clínicas del grosor íntima-media carotídeo (GIM) y de la placa carotí- dea y su valor predictivo sobre el riesgo de enfermedad co- ronaria y la mortalidad. Metodología: Estudio prospectivo en el que se incluyeron 60 pacientes estables en HD (68 ± 13 años, 48% hombres, 50% diabéticos, tiempo en HD de 32 ± 11 meses) y 274 controles, semejantes en edad y sexo. El período de seguimiento fue de 66 ± 13 meses. Determi- naciones: Datos demográficos y clínicos, analítica general y niveles séricos de homocisteína y folato. Se midió el GIM mediante ecocardiografía 2D. Resultados: El GIM fue mayor en los pacientes en HD que en el grupo control (0,947 ± 0,308 frente a 0,619 ± 0,176 mm; p <0,001). El GIM se correlacionó con la edad (r = 0,268; p = 0,038), con la condición de diabético (r = 0,650; p <0,001) y la de hiper- tenso (r = 0,333; p = 0,012), pero no con colesterol total, HDL, LDL, triglicéridos, homocisteína o folato. Los pacien- tes con enfermedad coronaria, enfermedad vascular peri- férica o ictus tenían un GIM mayor que los que no presen- taban dichas afecciones (1,156 ± 0,371 frente a 0,875 ± 0,285 mm; p <0,001; 1,205 ± 0,374 frente a 0,911 ± 0,231 mm; p = 0,007; 1,195 ± 0,264 frente a 0,844 ± 0,251; p <0,001, respectivamente). Se encontraron datos similares respecto a la presencia de placas en la pared carotídea. Durante el período de seguimiento fallecieron 36 pacientes, 24 de los cuales (67%) por causa cardiovascular, cuyo GIM fue mayor (1,020 ± 0,264 frente a 0,858 ± 0,334 mm; p = 0,044). La supervivencia a la finalización del período de es- tudio fue significativamente mejor en el cuartil inferior de GIM (72%) que en el superior (20%). La presencia de pla- cas carotídeas fue predictor independiente de mortalidad cardiovascular. Conclusiones: El GIM y las presencia de pla- cas carotídeas se relacionan con algunos de los factores clá- sicos de riesgo cardiovascular como la edad, la diabetes o la hipertensión en pacientes urémicos. Su medición es útil para predecir la enfermedad coronaria y la mortalidad a largo plazo en los paciente urémicos (AU)

ntroduction: Cardiovascular disease and other complica- tions of atherosclerosis are the most common cause of death in patients with chronic renal failure in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Carotid ultrasonography is a simple no invasive tool to investigate the vascular system, by means of intima media thickness (IMT) measurement and carotid wall calcifications. Objective: To determine IMT and the presence of plaques, and their possible clinical re- lationships; finally we tried to investigate whether they would predict cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients in MHD. Methods: We studied 60 MHD patients (age 68 ± 13 years, 48% male, 50% diabetics, tiem on MHD 32 ± 11 months) and a control group of 274 people matched for age and sex. Follow-up period was 66 ± 13 months. Measurements: Demographic and clinical data, serum levels of homocysteine (tHcy), folic acid (FA) and B 6 and B 12 vitamins. IMT was measured by high-resolution B- mode ultrasonography. Results: IMT was higher in MHD patients than in those in the control group (0.947 ± 0.308 vs 0.619 ± 0.176 mm; P <0.001). IMT was related with age (r = 0.268; P = 0.038), diabetic (r = 0.650; P <0.001) and hy- pertensive condition (r = 0.333; P = 0.012), but not wih lipids, tHcy or FA. Similar findings were found with the presence or not of carotid plaques but serum LDL-choles- terol levels were also related (r= –0.280; P = 0.031). Patients who suffered from coronary artery disease, peripheral ar- tery disease or stroke had higher IMT than those without those events (1.156 ± 0.371 vs 0.875 ± 0.285 mm; P <0.001; 1.205 ± 0.374 vs 0.911 ± 0.231 mm; P = 0.007; 1.195 ± 0.264 vs 0.844 ± 0.251; P <0.001 respectively). Something similar ocurred with the presence of plaques. During the follow- up period 36 patients (60%) died, 67% of them due to car- diovascular causes. IMT was higher in patients who expired than those who survived (1.020 ± 0.264 vs 0.858 ± 0.334 mm; P = 0.044). The survival rate during the observation was significantly lower in the final IMT fourth (20%) than in the first (72%) (P = 0.014). The presence of carotid plaques was an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality. Conclusions: These findings suggests that meas- urement of carotid IMT and the presence of wall plaques are useful tools to predict cardiovascular events and mor- tality in patients in MHD (AU)

[Carotid ultrasound: prevention of heart disease and mortality on haemodialysis]. / La ecografía carotídea es útil para predecir enfermedad coronaria y mortalidad en pacientes en hemodiálisis.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease and other complications of atherosclerosis are the most common cause of death in patients with chronic renal failure in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Carotid ultrasonography is a simple non-invasive tool to investigate the vascular system, by means of intima media thickness (IMT) measurement and carotid wall calcifications. OBJECTIVE: To determine IMT and the presence of plaques, and their possible clinical relationships; finally we tried to investigate whether they would predict cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients in MHD. METHODS: We studied 60 MHD patients (age 68 +/- 13 years, 48% male, 50% diabetics, time on MHD 32 +/- 11 months) and a control group of 274 people matched for age and sex. Follow-up period was 66 +/- 13 months. MEASUREMENTS: Demographic and clinical data, serum levels of homocysteine (tHcy), folic acid (FA) and B6 and B12 vitamins. IMT was measured by high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. RESULTS: IMT was higher in MHD patients than in those in the control group (0.947 +/- 0.308 vs 0.619 +/- 0.176 mm; P < 0.001). IMT was related with age (r = 0.268; P = 0.038), diabetic (r = 0.650; P < 0.001) and hypertensive condition (r = 0.333; P = 0.012), but not wih lipids, tHcy or FA. Patients who suffered from coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease or stroke had higher IMT than those without those events (1.156 +/- 0.371 vs 0.875 +/- 0.285 mm; P < 0.001; 1.205 +/- 0.374 vs 0.911 +/- 0.231 mm; P = 0.007; 1.195 +/- 0.264 vs 0.844 +/- 0.251; P < 0.001 respectively). Something similar occurred with the presence of plaques. During the follow-up period 36 patients died (60%), 67% of them due to cardiovascular causes. IMT was higher in patients who died than those who survived (1.020 +/- 0.264 vs 0.858 +/- 0.334 mm; P = 0.044). The survival rate during the observation period was significantly lower in the final IMT fourth (20%) than in the first (72%) (P = 0.014). The presence of carotid plaques was an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggests that measurement of carotid IMT and the presence of wall plaques are useful tools to predict cardiovascular events and mortality in patients in MHD.