Carotid Doppler ultrasound measurements in allergic rhinitis patients

Year 2023, Volume: 6 Issue: 2, 416 - 420, 27.03.2023

Pelin Zeynep Bekin Sarıkaya , Nuray Bayar Muluk , Burak Mustafa Taş , Selcuk Baser , Elif Çetinkaya

https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1243786

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to determine with carotid Doppler ultrasound (CDU) whether the increase in inflammatory cells and mediators plays a role in intima-media thickening in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and to correlate this with the severity of the disease.
Material and Method: In this retrospective study, CDU reports and images of allergic rhinitis patients were evaluated in Group 1 (n=16). Score for allergic rhinitis (SFAR) and blood parameters that Hemoglobin (Hb), White Blood Cells (WBC), C-Reactive Protein (CRP), sedimentation levels were noted. Control group without AR consisted of 17 patients. In both groups, the presence of plaque on common carotid artery (CCA), and internal carotid artery (ICA) and all intima-media thickness were noted by CDU.
Results: In our study, CCA intima-media thickness and ICA intima-media thickness values of the AR group were significantly higher than those in the control group bilaterally (p<0.05). In the AR group, there were positive correlations between CCA intima-media thickness and ICA intima-media thickness values (p<0.05). In the AR and control groups, there were no plaques in ICAs bilaterally. However, left CCA plaques were detected in 2 patients (12.5%) of the AR group. In the AR group, CCA and ICA intima-media thicknesses increased in older patients; and right ICA intima-media thickness values increased in males (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common inflammatory diseases. It is known that the increase in mediators and inflammatory cells in the body can cause atherosclerosis. It should be kept in mind that AR patients may develop early atherosclerosis and therefore an increased cardiovascular risk.

Keywords

Allergic rhinitis, CCA intima-media thickness, ICA intima-media thickness, plaque.

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