Atherogenic index of plasma may be strong predictor of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with Behçet disease.

OBJECTIVE

Behcet's disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis characterized by cardiovascular complications. Early diagnosis of these complications can reduce morbidity and mortality. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) and the logarithmic value of triglyceride to high density lipoprotein ratio (atherogenic index of plasma, AIP) are good markers of atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether AIP is a predictive marker of subclinical atherosclerosis in BD patients.

METHODS

A total of 84 BD patients (60 male, 24 female) and 84 healthy control individuals (58 male, 26 female) were included in this study. cIMT measurements were made, and AIP values were calculated.

RESULTS

cIMT (p < 0.001) and AIP (p < 0.001) values of the BD patients were higher than those of the control group. A strong independent relationship was found between the AIP value and cIMT (β = 0.232, p = 0.018). In the subgroup analysis, the cIMT and AIP values of male BD patients were higher than those of female BD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased AIP and cIMT values can be a good marker for subclinical atherosclerosis in BD patients, especially in male BD patients.