Children with inflammatory bowel disease already have an altered arterial pulse wave

Adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk for vascular events. This study aims to evaluate arterial parameters in paediatric IBD. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was measured by ultrasound, and Arteriograph was used to assess aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao), brachial and aortic augmentation indexes (AixBrach, AixAo), central systolic blood pressure (SBPao), and heart rate (HR). A total of 161 children were included; 55 (34%) children with newly diagnosed IBD (median age 14.35 (11.88–16.31) years, 53% males), 53(33%) in remission (median age 15.62 (13.46–16.70) years, 66% males), and 53 (33%) controls (median age 14.09 (11.18–14.09) years, 55% males) were recruited into a case–control study. Compared to controls, patients with active disease and those in clinical remission had significantly lower AixBrach and AixAo ( P