POS1370 INCREASED INFERIOR VENA CAVA WALL THICKNESS AS A SIGN OF VENOUS INFLAMMATION IN BEHÇET’S DISEASE

Abstract

BackgroundVascular involvement of Behçet’s disease (BD) involves both arterial and venous vessels of all sizes [1]. Femoral (superficial, deep, and common) and popliteal veins are the most frequently affected veins. We have previously shown that femoral wall thickness is increased in BD patients and can be used as a diagnostic test [2].However, many other sites including vena cava inferior/superior and pulmonary arteries may also be involved [3]. Despite the dominance of venous vessel involvement, there is limited data assessing the large veins in BD.ObjectivesIn this study, we aimed to assess inferior vena cava wall thickness (IVC) by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in BD compared with healthy controls.MethodsPatients with BD (n=70) and age and sex-matched healthy controls (n=51) were included in this study. Assessment of inferior vena cava (IVC) wall thickness was performed by an experienced cardiologist blinded to cases. Measurement of IVC wall thickness was made at end-expiration and approximately 0.5 to 2.0 cm proximal to the ostium of the right atrium as demonstrated in Figure 1.Figure 1.Measurement of inferior vena cava wall thickness by transthoracic echocardiographyResultsIVC wall thickness of patients with BD (0.29 mm (SD: 0.03) was significantly higher than healthy controls (0.26 mm (SD: 0.03) (p<001). Although IVC wall thickness was higher in patients with BD with vascular involvement (0.30 mm (SD:0.04) and history of pulmonary embolism (0.30 mm (SD:0.04)), the difference did not reach statistical significance. There was no difference between IVC wall thicknesses in patients who used immunosuppressive and anti-TNF treatments due to major organ involvement, compared to those who did not. Similarly, no difference is observed between IVC thicknesses among Behçet’s patients according to age, gender, and activity status at the last visit. Although no correlation was found between IVC wall thicknesses, disease duration, and BDCAF scores at the last visit in the BD group, there was a low-grade correlation between age and IVC wall thickness (r=0.31, p=0.09)ConclusionIncreased IVC wall thickness shows vasculitic involvement of large venous structures in BD and can be easily measured by TTE which is an easily accessible, noninvasive modality without radiation. The role of IVC wall thickness assessment for the diagnosis or management of BD requires further studies.