Intima-media-thickness in patients with stenoses or occlusions of the carotid or the vertebrobasilar arteries.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the degree of atheroscler osis in patients with stenoses or occlusions in the vertebrobasilar system (VBS) and the carotid system (CS). Method: The Intima-Media-Thickness (IMT) and the diameter of the common carotid artery (CCA) (as parameters of the proliferative and dilatative form of atherosclerosis) were measured on both sides on areas of vessel wall without stenoses and plaques. We examined of the neck 134 people, including 32 normal healthy counds, 57 patients with stenoses or occlusions in the CS and 16 patients with macroangiopathy exclu sively in the VBS (following doppler- and duplex sonographical criteria). R esults: In control persons, a IMT of 0.67 +/- 0.2 mm and a CCA-diameter of 5.8 +/- 1.2 mm was found. Patients with CS-macroangiopathy exhibited a stat istically significant increase in IMT with 0.97 +/- 0.2 mm (p < 0.001) and dilatation of the CCA (6.6 +/- 1.2 mm, p < 0.01). In comparison to the cont rols we also found a significant increase in IMT (0.86 +/- 0.2 mm, p < 0.00 1) and in diameter (6.8 +/- 0.9 mm, p < 0.01) in patients with VBS-macroang iopathy. There was no significant difference between both groups, despite a tendency of less severe changes in patients suffering from VBS-macroangiop athy. Patients with diabetes (1.1 +/- 0.2 mm, p < 0.001), with hypertension (0.99 +/- 0.2 mm, p < 0.05) and with coronary heart disease (0.96 +/- 0.2 mm, p < 0.05) showed a significant increase in IMT. Conclusion: Parameters of generalized atherosclerosis do not significantly differ between patients with stenoses or occlusions in the VBS and patients with changes in the CS and are correlated to the classical risk factors.