Michio Otsuki    Department   School of Medicine(Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital), School of Medicine    Position   Professor and Division head
Article types	Original article
Language	English
Peer review	Peer reviewed
Title	Reduced carotid atherosclerosis in asthmatic patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids
Journal	Formal name：The European respiratory journal Abbreviation：Eur Respir J ISSN code：13993003 (Electronic)09031936 (Linking)
Domestic / Foregin	Foregin
Volume, Issue, Page	36(3),pp.503-508
Author and coauthor	Otsuki, M. Miyatake, A. Fujita, K. Hamasaki, T. Kasayama, S.
Authorship	Lead author,Corresponding author
Publication date	2010
Summary	Although inflammation is an important component of atherosclerosis, it is unknown whether inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) as anti-inflammatory drugs prevent atherosclerosis. In the present study, carotid atherosclerosis was evaluated by ultrasonography in 150 asthmatic patients who had been regularly treated with ICS, and in 150 matched nonasthmatic controls, with an assessment of atherosclerotic risk factors. Carotid intima-media thickness was significantly lower in the asthmatic patients than in the controls. The prevalence of carotid plaque tended to be lower in the asthmatic patients than in the controls. Defined carotid atherosclerosis was diagnosed in 51 of the asthmatic patients, who were older, with a higher prevalence of males, a higher prevalence of dyslipidaemia and a lower mean daily dose of ICS than the 99 patients without carotid atherosclerosis. Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis identified age, male sex and dyslipidaemia as positive risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis. The mean daily dose of ICS was a negative risk factor. Carotid atherosclerosis is reduced in asthmatic patients treated with ICS compared with matched controls. This study suggests that ICS may have protective effects against atherosclerosis.
DOI	10.1183/09031936.00090009
Document No.	20413534