Carotid Artery Intima–Medial Thickness Is Increased In Chronic Renal Failure

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Abstract
1. Chronic renal failure (CRF) is associated with rapidly progressive atherosclerotic vascular disease. In the present study, carotid arterial intima–medial thickness (IMT) was assessed in a large cohort of patients with CRF and matched controls and related to risk factors. 2. A total of 159 subjects with CRF (serum creatinine ≥ 0.40 mmol/L) aged > 50 years (mean (±SD) 63.8±7.7 years) and 159 healthy controls matched for age, sex and smoking status were studied. 3. The IMT was determined using B‐mode ultrasound measurements of the far wall of both common carotid arteries and presented as the mean IMT. Fasting plasma homocysteine (tHcy) was measured in the CRF group. 4. Intima–medial thickness was significantly greater in CRF patients than controls (0.89±0.17 vs 0.73±0.13 mm, respectively) after matching for age, sex and smoking status. Heart rate and pulse pressure were also significantly increased. The tHcy was increased two‐fold in the CRF group (27.7±11.3 μmol/L; normal < 13.0 μmol/L) and did not correlate with carotid IMT. 5. Compared with controls after adjusting for traditional risk factors, patients with CRF exhibit significantly increased IMT.