The evaluation of epicardial adipose tissue and carotid intima media thickness in patients with Behçet’s disease

Abstract

Objective: Epidemiological studies indicate that cardiovascular disease is common in almost all patients diagnosed with autoimmune disease. This study aimed to examine whether Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) differ among patients with Beh?et?s Disease (BD) and healthy individuals. Methods: A total of 40 healthy subjects as controls and 40 BD patients with musculoskeletal complaints were enrolled in this cross-sectional prospective study. Socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory data were obtained and compared between groups. Beh?et?s Disease Current Activity Form was used to assess disease activity. Both groups underwent echocardiography to measure EAT and CIMT. Results: The mean thickness of EAT (5.70?1.05; 2.50?0.61, respectively, p<0.001) and CIMT (0.68?0.05; 0.63?0.06, respectively, p: 0.002) were significantly increased in BD patients compared to the control group. A positive correlation was observed between EAT thickness and age (r:0.500, p:0.001), the duration of the disease (r:0.330, p<0.001), waist circumference (r:0.316, p: 0.013), and disease activity (r: 0.31, p<0.001) in the patient group. The CIMT was positively correlated with age (r: 0.594, p: 0.001) and the duration of the disease (r: 0.585, p: 0.001). Use of glucocorticoids or clinical manifestations (joint involvements, genital ulcer, skin lesions, inflammatory back pain and major organ involvement) of the patients were not found to be associated with EAT or CIMT. Conclusion: The thickness of EAT and CIMT are increased in patients with BD that are associated with disease activity. Echocardiographic measurement of EAT and CIMT is an objective, noninvasive and available method that can evaluate the risk of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with BD.