Increased carotid intima-media thickness in patients with pheochromocytoma in comparison to essential hypertension
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery (CCA) and carotid bifurcation (CB) in patients with pheochromocytoma (PHEO), essential hypertension (EH) and controls. Carotid ultrasound studies were carried out in 30 patients with PHEO, 80 patients with EH and 40 normotensive controls.
Significantly higher IMT was found in patients with PHEO and EH compared to controls when measured in the CCA (0.931 +- 0.223mm, 0.825 +- 0.146mm, and 0.738 +- 0.113mm; P<0.001; P<0.05), and only in patients with PHEO compared to controls in the CB (1.359 +- 0.593 mm, 1.095 +- 0.311mm, and 0.968 +- 0.247mm; P<0.001; P=0.13). Higher IMT in patients with PHEO compared to patients with EH was also statistically significant in both carotid regions (both P<0.01).
This difference remained significant after adjustment for all relevant clinical and biochemical covariates in the CCA (P=0.014) but disappeared in the CB (P=0.079). In summary, patients with PHEO have increased IMT of t