ACHILLES-TENDON SIZE BY HIGH-RESOLUTION SONOGRAPHY IN HEALTHY POPULATION - RELATIONSHIP WITH LIPID-LEVELS

BACKGROUND: Sonography is a useful technique for the study of the Achi lles tendon, and specially in the detection of tendon xantomas. Normal sonographic size is not well established, and is essential in the cli nical diagnosis of monogenic familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Possi ble relationship between Achilles tendon size and plasma lipid concent rations in nonnolipidemic population is not known. SUBJECTS AND METHOD S: The antero-posterior Achilles tendon diameter (ATD) was measured wi th high resolution sonography in 100 healthy subjects, 50 males and 50 females, 20-70 yean old, 10 subjects for each decade of age and sex. ATD was correlated with age, gender, body mass index, physical activit y and lipid and apolipoprotein a plasma concentrations. RESULTS: The A TD was significantly higher in males than in females, 5.32 (standard d esviation [SD] 0.48) mm venus 4.91 (SD 0.47) mm (p < 0.01). In the mul tivariate analysis, ATD of males was positively associated with total plasma cholesterol (TC) level (p < 0.01). The ATD in females was posit ively associated with weight (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Normal ATD has b een defined. Its range is relatively narrow and different in both sexe s. Similarities in the histology between vascular and tendinous inters ticium probably explain the relationship found between Achilles tendon and TC. Achilles tendon size could be a simple marker of lipid deposi tion in tissues.