TY - JOUR
T1 - Inflammation is associated with carotid atherosclerosis in dialysis patients
AU - Zoccali, Carmine
AU - Benedetto, Francesco Antonio
AU - Mallamaci, Francesca
AU - Tripepi, Giovanni
AU - Fermo, Isabella
AU - Focà, Alfredo
AU - Paroni, Rita
AU - Malatino, Lorenzo Salvatore
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - Objective: To investigate the relationship between inflammatory processes and atherosclerosis in uraemic patients on chronic dialysis. Design: A cross-sectional study in 138 dialysis patients (92 on haemodialysis and 45 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis). Methods: Serum C-reactive protein (CRP), IgG anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies, lipoprotein (a), fibrinogen and plasma homocysteine as well as the intima-media thickness and the number of atherosclerotic plaques of the carotid arteries (by Echo-Colour-Doppler) were measured in each patient. Results: One hundred and eight patients had at least one plaque and 25 had more than six plaques. Serum CRP was above the upper limit of the normal range (5 mg/I) in 85 of 138 patients (62%). IgG anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies were detectable in 64% of patients (high level in 24%, intermediate in 33% and low in 7%) and undetectable in the remaining 36% of patients. In a multiple regression model age (β = 0.35), serum CRP (β = 0.23), plasma homocysteine (β = 0.19), duration of dialysis (β = 0.19) and pulse pressure (β = 0.18) were independent predictors of intima-media thickness (R = 0.54, P <0.0001). Similarly, age (β = 0.33), serum CRP (β = 0.29), plasma homocysteine (β = 0.20) and serum albumin (β = -0.18) were independent correlates of the number of atherosclerotic plaques (R = 0.55, P <0.0001). Furthermore, in smokers, the interaction serum CRP-IgG anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies was the stronger independent predictor (β = 0.43, P = 0.0001) of the number of atherosclerotic plaques while no such relationship (P= 0.73) was found in non-smokers. Conclusions: In patients on chronic dialysis treatment CRP is independently associated to carotid atherosclerosis and appears at least in part to be explained by IgG anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies level. These data lend support to the hypothesis that inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in these patients. (C) Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
AB - Objective: To investigate the relationship between inflammatory processes and atherosclerosis in uraemic patients on chronic dialysis. Design: A cross-sectional study in 138 dialysis patients (92 on haemodialysis and 45 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis). Methods: Serum C-reactive protein (CRP), IgG anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies, lipoprotein (a), fibrinogen and plasma homocysteine as well as the intima-media thickness and the number of atherosclerotic plaques of the carotid arteries (by Echo-Colour-Doppler) were measured in each patient. Results: One hundred and eight patients had at least one plaque and 25 had more than six plaques. Serum CRP was above the upper limit of the normal range (5 mg/I) in 85 of 138 patients (62%). IgG anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies were detectable in 64% of patients (high level in 24%, intermediate in 33% and low in 7%) and undetectable in the remaining 36% of patients. In a multiple regression model age (β = 0.35), serum CRP (β = 0.23), plasma homocysteine (β = 0.19), duration of dialysis (β = 0.19) and pulse pressure (β = 0.18) were independent predictors of intima-media thickness (R = 0.54, P <0.0001). Similarly, age (β = 0.33), serum CRP (β = 0.29), plasma homocysteine (β = 0.20) and serum albumin (β = -0.18) were independent correlates of the number of atherosclerotic plaques (R = 0.55, P <0.0001). Furthermore, in smokers, the interaction serum CRP-IgG anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies was the stronger independent predictor (β = 0.43, P = 0.0001) of the number of atherosclerotic plaques while no such relationship (P= 0.73) was found in non-smokers. Conclusions: In patients on chronic dialysis treatment CRP is independently associated to carotid atherosclerosis and appears at least in part to be explained by IgG anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies level. These data lend support to the hypothesis that inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in these patients. (C) Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
KW - Atherosclerosis
KW - C-reactive protein
KW - Cardiovascular risk
KW - Dialysis
KW - Homocysteine
KW - Inflammation
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M3 - Article
C2 - 10994751
AN - SCOPUS:0033811571
VL - 18
SP - 1207
EP - 1213
JO - Journal of Hypertension
JF - Journal of Hypertension
SN - 0263-6352
IS - 9
ER -