| Sonographic carotid plaque morphologic characteristics and vascular risk factors: results from a population study. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 18716141 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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OBJECTIVE: The role of vascular risk factors in atherosclerosis development is well established, whereas risk factors involved in determining plaque vulnerability are still a matter of debate. We investigated the vascular risk factor distribution in patients with carotid plaques. METHODS: We consecutively assessed sonographic plaque morphologic characteristics, the degree of stenosis, and the common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) in 1655 patients. Demographic data, a documented history of symptomatic cerebrovascular disease (CVD), and the presence of vascular risk factors were collected. According to literature, heterogeneous hypoechoic plaques with an irregular surface or ulcerations and those with a severe degree of stenosis (>or=70%) have been considered "complex" plaques at "major" risk of stroke; homogeneous hyperechoic plaques with smooth surface lesions have been considered "simple" plaques at minor risk. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that all vascular risk factors were associated with the presence of carotid atherosclerotic lesions. Multiple logistic regression showed an independent association of hypertension and diabetes with complex plaques, which also had a thicker IMT. A history of CVD was observed more frequently in complex plaques, which had a higher stenosis percentage even after patients with a severe degree of stenosis (>or=70%) and indications for carotid surgery were excluded. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension and diabetes are related to a thicker IMT and more severe complex plaques, which may reflect the instability of atherosclerotic process. Because two-thirds of the patients with complex plaques were asymptomatic for CVD, this raises the importance of surveillance sonography to monitor plaque evolution for prevention of symptomatic CVD. |
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Authors:
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Edoardo Vicenzini; Maria Chiara Ricciardi; Francesco Puccinelli; Marta Altieri; Nicola Vanacore; Vittorio Di Piero; Gian Luigi Lenzi |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine Volume: 27 ISSN: 1550-9613 ISO Abbreviation: J Ultrasound Med Publication Date: 2008 Sep |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2008-08-21 Completed Date: 2008-11-12 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8211547 Medline TA: J Ultrasound Med Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 1313-9 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome, La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. edoardo.vicenzini@uniroma1.it |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Aged Carotid Artery Diseases / epidemiology*, ultrasonography* Carotid Stenosis / epidemiology*, ultrasonography* Comorbidity Cross-Sectional Studies Diabetes Mellitus / diagnosis, epidemiology Echocardiography, Doppler, Color / statistics & numerical data* Female Humans Hypertension / diagnosis, epidemiology Incidence Italy / epidemiology Male Risk Assessment / methods* Risk Factors |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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