Hyperuricemia and its association with carotid intima-media thickness in hypertensive and non hypertensive patients

Carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) measured noninvasively by ultrasonography is widely used as a marker for increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Also hyperuricemia (HU) is a well recognized risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The study was designed to assess the relation between hyperuricemia and carotid intima-media thickness C-IMT in patients with and withouthypertension (HTN). This study included 126 patients divided into four groups: (1) Group A, included 59 hypertensive patients with hyperuricemia. (2) Group B, included 29 hypertensive patients without hyperuricemia. (3) Group C, included 17 patients with hyperuricemia and normal blood pressure without history of hypertension. (4) Group D, included 21 control subjects. We measured carotid intima-media thickness by B-mode ultrasound in the common carotid and internal carotid artery. Routine echocardiography and uric acid level was assessed for all patients.We found that C-IMT was significantly higher in group A, B and C than group D; and it was significantly higher in group A than B. This means that C-IMT is significantly higher in all hypertensive groups than control group but it was significantly higher in hypertensive hyperuricemia (group A) than those hypertensives without hyperuricemia. We also observed a higher C-IMT in hyperuricemic non hypertensive patients than control group this means that hyperuricemia per secould be a risk factor for atherosclerosis.