EARLY CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN HEALTHY MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN - A FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

Citation
C. Bonithonkopp et al., EARLY CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN HEALTHY MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN - A FOLLOW-UP-STUDY, Stroke, 24(12), 1993, pp. 1837-1843
Citations number
39
Categorie Soggetti
Neurosciences,"Cardiac & Cardiovascular System
Journal title
StrokeACNP
ISSN journal
00392499
Volume
24
Issue
12
Year of publication
1993
Pages
1837 - 1843
Database
ISI
SICI code
0039-2499(1993)24:12<1837:ECAIHM>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Few longitudinal data about early atherosclero tic lesions of the carotid arteries are available in general populatio ns. The main purpose of this study was to investigate risk factors for development and regression of intimal-medial thickening and atheromat ous plaques. Methods: Initial and 2-year examinations of the carotid a rteries with high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography were performed in 308 apparently healthy women aged 45 to 55 years. The development of n ew atheromatous plaques and new intimal-medial thickening and the disa ppearance of preexisting plaques and intimal-medial thickening defined the four outcomes of interest. Results. The development of plaques oc curred more frequently in women with intimal-medial thickening than in women with normal carotid arteries at baseline (14.4% versus 7.2%, P< .053). A regression was seen in 21.7% of the women with preexisting pl aques. Development of intimal-medial thickening occurred in 47.5% of t he women with normal carotid arteries whereas 20.2% of the women with preexisting intimal-medial thickening showed a regression of their les ions. Multiple logistic regression showed that smoking (regression coe fficient +/-SE: 1.281+/-0.450; P<.005), baseline levels of systolic bl ood pressure (regression coefficient +/-SE: 0.031+/-0.015; P<.04) and apolipoprotein B (regression coefficient +/-SE: 0.016+/-0.007; P<.03) were independently associated with the development of plaques, whereas the presence of an intimal-medial thickening did not reach the signif icance level (regression coefficient +/-SE: 0.639+/-0.436; P<.15). Ind ependent predictors of the development of intimal-medial thickening we re age (regression coefficient +/-SE: 0.124+/-0.058; P<.04) and, with a borderline significance level, (log)triglycerides (regression coeffi cient +/-SE: 0.854+/-0.451; P<.06). Low levels of low-density lipoprot ein cholesterol (regression coefficient +/-SE: 0.027+/-0.009; P<.004) were associated with its regression. Conclusions: This longitudinal st udy emphasizes the interest of B-mode ultrasonography in the monitorin g of early carotid lesions. It gives further support to the hypothesis that intimal-medial thickening may be an early indicator of the ather osclerotic process.