Arterial stiffness is increased in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background And Aims: Recent studies have reported early atherosclerosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In these patients, the chronic low-grade inflammation may predispose to vascular remodelling and arterial stiffening. We aimed at studying arterial stiffness in IBD patients.

Methods: Thirty-two IBD patients without cardiovascular risk factors and 32 matched controls were enrolled (age 19-49 years). SphygmoCor device (AtCor Medical, Sydney, Australia) was used to measure carotid-femoral and carotid-radial (muscular artery) pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index and central blood pressure.

Results: Carotid-femoral PWV was higher in IBD patients than in controls (6.6 ± 1.4 vs. 6.0 ± 0.8 m/s, respectively, P < 0.05), as well as carotid-radial PWV (8.5 ± 1.2 vs. 7.2 ± 1.0 m/s, P < 0.001). Central pulse pressure was higher in IBD than in controls (32 ± 6 vs. 28 ± 7 mmHg, P < 0.05). Aging was an important determinant of carotid-femoral PWV in both groups and carotid-radial PWV only in IBD patients. In fully adjusted model performed in both groups of patients considered as a whole, age was positively associated with carotid-femoral PWV [R(2) = 0.10; +0.05 m/s per 1 year of aging, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01-0.08 m/s, P < 0.05], as well as IBD (R(2) = 0.10; +0.72 m/s if IBD present, 95% CI 0.19-1.26 m/s, P < 0.05). In IBD patients, carotid-radial PWV was positively associated with the disease duration (R(2) = 0.20; +0.11 m/s per 1 year of aging, 95% CI 0.03-0.19 m/s, P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Arterial stiffness is increased in patients with IBD independently of conventional cardiovascular risk factors.