Atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can cause early atherosclerosis. There is a correlation between inflammatory activity in IBD and cardiovascular events. Chronic inflammation can lead to endothelial dysfunction. This review discusses the possibilities of the mechanisms underlying the relationship between IBD and atherosclerosis, the role of innate and humoral immunity, intestinal microbiota, biomarkers (C-reactive protein, homocysteine, etc.), as well as the possibility of early instrumental diagnosis of subclinical manifestations of atherosclerosis in patients with IBD by measuring carotid intimamedia thickness and aortic pulse wave velocity. The need for active prevention of cardiovascular diseases in this group of patients is emphasized, including through the control of inflammation activity, as well as the inclusion of IBD in one of the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords

• inflammatory bowel disease
• chronic inflammation
• atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
• atherosclerosis
• endothelial dysfunction
• gut microbiota
• biomarkers
• ccarotid intima–media thickness
• arterial stiffness
• pulse wave velocity