Objectives: Parenchymal stiffness obtained by point shear-wave elastography (pSWE) in solid organs is used as a sign of damage in these organs. However, its clinical use and whether patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have increased ovarian tissue stiffness are still unclear. The aim of this study is to determine the parameters related to ovarian stiffness and whether there is an increase in ovarian stiffness in patients with PCOS compared with healthy controls. Methods: Forty-five women who were followed up regularly with the diagnosis of PCOS and 30 healthy controls similar to age and sex were included in this study. In addition to the routine follow-up parameters for PCOS, serum homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels were examined in all patients, and pSWE examination was performed with pelvic ultrasound (US) and ElastPQ technique. Results: Serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, and AMH were higher in PCOS compared with healthy controls (P < 0.001). Right, left, and mean ovary stiffness and volumes were significantly higher in PCOS group than healthy controls (P < 0.001). Correlation analysis was performed between mean ovary stiffness and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, homeostatic model assessment, and AMH and ovary volumes (P < 0.01 for each one). In linear regression analysis, only AMH was found to be related to mean ovary stiffness (P < 0.001 and β = 0.734). Conclusions: Ovarian stiffness value obtained by ElastPQ technique and pSWE method increases in PCOS patients compared with healthy controls and is closely related to serum AMH levels. In patients with PCOS, in addition to the conventional US, ovarian stiffness measured by pSWE may be an auxiliary examination in the follow-up of the disease. However, it was concluded that the ovarian stiffness measurement obtained in our current study should be supported by studies involving more patients and the transvaginal US method.

Background: Increased carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV) and increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in hypertension (HT) patients are indicators of asymptomatic organ damage. The relationship between carotid IMT and CF-PWV has been shown; studies comparing CF-PWV and IMT values within different vascular regions are limited. We aimed to investigate the relationship between IMT value measured from different anatomical regions and CF-PWV, and the localization of IMT that determines increased CF-PWV best. Methods: This study included 312 patients with HT. CF-PWV measurements with Doppler ultrasonography (USG). Vascular IMTs were measurements of common-internal carotid, brachial, and femoral arteries with B-mode USG (CC-IMT, IC-IMT, B-IMT, and F-IMT, respectively). Patients were divided into two groups according to their CF-PWV value (Increased CF-PWV >10 m/s and normal CF-PWV ≤10m/s). Results: Increased CF-PWV was detected in 54 (17.3%) of HT patients. The patient group with increased CF-PWV was older, and their CC-IMT, IC-IMT and F-IMT values were found to be higher. The other 3 IMT increases excluding B-IMT were closely related to the CF-PWV increase. Only age and CC-IMT values were found to be most closely related to CF-PWV. CC-IMT and age were found to be independently associated with increased CF-PWV. CC-IMT (each-0.1 mm) and age (each year) were found to augment the development of increased CF-PWV by 50.3% and 14.6%, respectively. Conclusion: There is a close relationship between CC-IMT and CF-PWV increase in HT. It was thought that it would still be more useful to look at the increase of CC-IMT compared to other vascular regions for screening asymptomatic organ damage.

Carotid intima media thickness (C-IMT) and aortic IMT (A-IMT) increase in adult and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), respectively. In both age groups IMT is used for early detection of macrovascular complications. In adult DM patients, A-IMT is still not a routine examination and is not used frequently. We aimed to determine whether there is an increase in A-IMT values measured from abdominal aorta besides traditional C-IMT in patients with type II DM and to determine parameters closely related to A-IMT in the same patient group. We included 114 type II DM patients and 100 healthy control subjects similar in age and sex in our study. Bilateral C-IMT and A-IMT values were measured by B-mode ultrasonography (USG) in addition to anamnesis, physical examination and routine examinations of all patients. When the clinical, demographic and laboratory data of patients with and without DM were compared, there was a high level of glucose and HbA1c and low hemoglobin levels in the DM patient group. All other parameters were found to be similar between the two groups. When the B-mode USG findings were examined, it was found that C-IMT and A-IMT were increased in patients with DM, with the A-IMT increase being more prominent. A-IMT values were found to be strongly and positively correlated with age, systolic blood pressure, blood urea nitrogen, DM onset time and HbA1c levels, and a negatively and significantly correlated with hemoglobin levels (p < 0.05, for each). In the regression model, the parameters correlating most closely with A-IMT were DM diagnosis onset time, HbA1c and hemoglobin levels (p = 0.001 and β = 0.353, p = 0.014 and β = 0.247 and p < 0.001 and β = − 0.406). As in pediatric DM patients also in adult DM patients A-IMT can easily be measured with new model USG devices. A-IMT must be measured during abdominal USG which is routine in adult DM patients. A-IMT is an easy, reproducible and non-invasive parameter that may be used in the diagnosis of macrovascular complications of adult type II DM.

Background We aimed to determine whether there is an increase in aortic intima-media thickness values measured from the abdominal aorta in addition to the traditional carotid intima-media thickness in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and to determine the parameters closely related to aortic intima-media thickness. Methods This perspective study included 65 primary hyperparathyroidism patients and 30 healthy-controls. Routine laboratory tests for the diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism and vascular ultrasound examinations were performed. Common carotid, internal carotid, and abdominal aortic intima media thickness were measured. The participants of the study was divided into 3 groups as the control (Group–I), the medical treatment (Group–II) due to primary hyperparathyroidism, and the planned surgery (group–III). Results Aortic intima-media thickness, serum urea, creatinine, glucose, uric acid, hs-CRP, parathyroid hormone, calcium and urine calcium levels increased significantly from Group–I to Group–III and T–scores and serum phosphorus in levels decreased significantly. Carotid intima-media thicknesses were not significantly different between the groups. Serum and urinary calcium levels were independently associated with aortic intima-media thickness. Aortic intima-media thickness, serum phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, T-scores, serum and urinary calcium levels are independent indicators for Group–III. When the cut-off value of aortic intima-media thickness was taken as 1.5 mm, 80.6% sensitivity and 89.1% specificity were determined for patients who would go to surgery. Conclusion Serum and urine calcium levels were independently associated with aortic intima-media thickness. Aortic intima-media thickness is more useful than carotid intima-media thickness in showing vascular organ involvement in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

Elastography is a method to examine the increase in solid organs stiffness (SOS), and there is no data in the literature regarding to its use in patients with acromegaly. In this study, we aimed to investigate the change of SOS in patients with acromegaly and to determine the parameters closely related to SOS in same patient groups. We included 40 subjects with acromegaly and 40 healthy control subjects. In addition to routine renal, liver and thyroid ultrasonography (USG), SOS for 3 solid organs were measured by elastography. The participants of the study were divided into 3 groups as the control (Group-I), acromegaly patients with remission (Group-II), and acromegaly patients without remission (Group-III). Insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) level significantly increased from Group-I to Group-III. Glucose, creatinine, albuminuria, alkaline phosphatase, TSH, and growth factor levels were highest in Group-III and statistically significance was found only between Group-I and Group-III. Liver, kidney and thyroid size and echogenicity were increased from Group-I to Group-III. Liver and renal stiffness and thyroid gland strain ratio significantly increased from Group-I to Group-III and these parameters were statistically different between all groups. In linear regression analysis, IGF-1 levels were independent determinants of SOS. SOS values of acromegaly patients with active disease were significantly increased compared to both the control group and the acromegaly patients in remission phase. Serum IGF-1 levels were independently associated with SOS in these patients. SOS measurement should be part of a routine USG examination in patients with acromegaly, especially in patients during active disease.