Evaluation of the relationship between serum uric acid level and carotid intima media thickness in patients with end-stage renal disease receiving routine hemodialysis treatment

Intraduction and Aim: Hemodialysis treatment is one of the most important renal replacement therapies. Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of death in all societies, and cardiovascular events and deaths are also very common in the hemodialysis patient group. In this study; we aimed to evaluate the relationship between carotid intima media thickness, which is a known indicator of cardiovascular risk and atherosclerosis, and uric acid level which may be an easy marker for cardiovascular diseases due to its antioxidant and prooxidant properties. Materials and Methods: The study is cross-sectional. In our study, we evaluated 77 patients over the age of 18 and under the age of 80 who were receiving hemodialysis treatment. The carotid intima media thickness of these patients was measured and recorded by doppler ultrasonography as the right carotid, left carotid and the average of these two values. Blood values taken before routine hemodialysis treatment were recorded in our patients. Results: With the uric acid values of our patients; we found a moderately positive correlation (p=0.001) between right carotid intima-media thickness and a weak positive correlation (p=0.046) between left carotid intima-media thickness. Right carotid intima-media and left carotid intima-media thickness averaged and calculated average carotid intima-media thickness, we found a moderate positive correlation (p=0.002) between uric acid levels. In multiple regression analyses, we found a negative relationship between albumin and CRP values and carotid intima media thickness (p=0.015 and p=0.009). Conclusion: Uric acid is a biochemical parameter that can be easily monitored in hemodialysis patients and in the normal population. In our study; we found a relationship between carotid intima media thickness, which we can use to predict cardiovascular events, and uric acid level, which can be controlled in every laboratory. Based on this relationship, uric acid level and cardiovascular risks can be determined in advance. That is why we think that lowering uric acid levels, both through lifestyle and dietary regulation, as well as uric acid-lowering medical treatments, can reduce atherosclerosis and thus cardiovascular events. It is also obvious that there is a need to conduct large-scale studies on this issue. Keywords: Hemodialysis, Uric Acid, Carotid Intima-Media Thickness, Cardiovascular Disease, Atherosclerosis