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