CAROTID INTIMA-MEDIA THICKNESS AND CORONARY HEART-DISEASE RISK-FACTORS

There is increasing evidence that arterial intima-media thickness (IMT ) might represent an early atherosclerotic lesion. The clinical import ance of its measurement is, however, still debated. The aim of the pre sent study was to analyze the effect of coronary heart disease (CHD) r isk factors on carotid IMT and to verify whether intima-media thickeni ng is associated with overt atherosclerosis of carotid arteries. Two h undred and seventy-six subjects referred to the Angiology Unit for ech o-Doppler examination of carotid arteries during the period January-Ju ne 1993 were enrolled. Echo-Doppler was performed with a Multigon Angi oview 600. IMT was measured in the common carotid artery, 1 cm proxima l to the bulb. CHD risk factors were evaluated by routine methods. In males IMT increased significantly with increasing number of CHD risk f actors. In females only the presence of three CHD risk factors was ass ociated with a significant IMT increase. In both sexes IMT was higher in subjects with evidence of atherosclerotic lesions in the carotid ar teries, Tn multiple regression analysis IMT was strongly and significa ntly associated with the presence of plaques and/or stenosis in the ca rotid arteries. The present findings suggest that IMT measurement can be useful in clinical practice, giving a comprehensive picture of the damage caused by several CHD risk factors over time on arterial wall.