Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common chronic rheumatic disease in children. Prolonged immunological inflammatory process leads in these patients to an early onset of atherosclerosis. That is why it seems to be important to find methods of detecting atherosclerosis in its very early stage to start appropriate treatment.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether there is any correlation between intima-media thickness (IMT) in carotid artery and concentrations of markers of epithelial cell dysfunction – C-reactive protein and Intercellular Adhesive Molecule -1 (sICAM-1).

Materials and methods: 63 children were enrolled in the study (40 with JIA and 23 healthy as control group). C-reactive protein concentration was assayed by immunoturbidimetric method with Hitachi 912 Chemistry Analyzer and sICAM-1 was assayed by ELISA. IMT was measured as defined by Pignoli.

Results: Mean CRP concentration in the study group was 1.97 mg/dl and in the control group – 0.08 mg/dl. sICAM-1 concentration was 333.4 mg/ml, and mean IMT in carotid artery in children with JIA was 0.43 mm (max=0.58 mm, min=0.36 mm). There was a correlation between IMT and sICAM-1 concentration (r=0.75, p<0.001).

Conclusions: Assessment of IMT in carotid artery and concentrations of sICAM-1 and CRP may be used as a marker of preclinical arthrosclerosis in children with JIA.