Evaluation of intima-media thickness of carotid artery in patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease using ultrasound

Abstract

Aim: We studied the use of ultrasound in the detection of intima-media thickness (IMT) as an early predictor of atherosclerosis in patients with and without chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 30 BMT patients without history of chronic GVHD, 30 BMT patients with chronic GVHD and 30 healthy controls. IMT was estimated at 3 points on the right and left sides – 1: within 10 mm of the distal common carotid artery; 2: within 10 mm of the carotid bulb; and 3: within 10 mm of the proximal internal carotid artery. Results: Patients with chronic GVHD had a significantly (p < 0.01) higher overall IMT and IMT in the right or left bulb of carotid compared with patients without chronic GVHD and controls. No differences were found in IMT at different points between controls and patients without GVHD. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a higher IMT in patients with chronic GVHD after BMT and no significant differen...