AB0959 The Automated Software-Guided Ultrasound Assessment of Bilateral Common Carotids Intima-Media Thickness for Investigation of Cardiovascular Risk: Comparison between Psoriatic and Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

BackgroundRecent studies have shown the relationship between psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis and subclinical atherosclerosis. Currently, a new automated ultrasound software, based on radio frequency, called RF-QIMT technology, proved to be a useful method for assessing subclinical atherosclerosis with the measurement of the intima-media thickness (IMT) in carotid arteries.ObjectivesTo compare the carotid IMT in patients with ordinary psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through the RF-QIMT.MethodsTotal of 28 patients with APs (n=14) and RA (n=14) were enrolled in this case-control study. Patients with diabetes mellittus, dyslipidemia and previous cardiovascular events excluded. We evaluated the body mass index (BMI) and disease activity, including DAS28 score. The patients underwent a US assessment of the IMT of the posterior wall of common carotids using a My Lab 60 (Esaote SpA, Genoa, Italy) equipped with a 4–13 MHz linear probe adopting an automatic software-guided technique (named RF-QIMT technology).ResultsMean age was 42.5. ±7.7 years and 46,6± 11.6 years in patients with APs and RA with no statistical difference between the groups (p>0.05). The mean disease duration was 14.1±9,5 and 6.17±4.4 years (p0.05) in relation to the average values of IMT (0.744± 0.244 in APs vs. 0.626 mm ±0.113mm in RA), the standard deviation (SD) of the six average values indicated by the system, were ranging from 12,7μm to 21μm, respectively. In addition, it was found that 64.3% of the patients with APs and 78.6% of those AR had higher IMT measurement than expected (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant correlation between IMT and the DAS28 score. However, there was a moderate statistically significant correlation (r =0.51; p