DELAYED ARTERIOSCLEROSIS PROGRESSION IN HIGH-RISK SUBJECTS TREATED WITH MESOGLYCAN - EVALUATION OF INTIMA-MEDIA THICKNESS

Noninvasive ultrasonic biopsy(UB) can be used to classify arterioscler otic lesions and their progression in the carotid and femoral bifurcat ion. Also the evaluation of intima-media thickness (IMT) is useful to quantify the progression of early arteriosclerosis. Two randomly selec ted groups of asymptomatic subjects were included in a 18 month, open study. One group was treated with oral mesoglycan (200 mg/day) and one group was followed-up as control. The two groups were comparable for age and sex distribution. The average UB score was 14.4+/-5 in the tre atment group and 14.3+/-8 in the control group. After 18 months the UB score was 15.7+/-4 in the treatment and 16.2+/-6 in the control group . These differences were not significant. However the average increase in IMT in 18 months in the treatment group was 0.016 mm equivalent to O.0106 mm per year. In the control group the average increase was 0.1 19 equivalent to O.0793 per year. Therefore the increase in IMT was 7. 48 times greater in the control group. These differences were signific ant (p<0.05). Two drop-outs were recorded in the treatment group and 1 in the control group. In conclusion IMT measurements showed a decreas ed level of IMT progression in subjects under mesoglycan treatment. Th ese results need to be confirmed by a larger randomised study.