The Association Between Arterial Stiffness And Carotid Intima-media Thickness In Patients With Known Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Abstract

Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between pulse wave velocity and carotid intima media thickness (IMT) in patients with different cardiovascular risk factors. 

Material and methods. This prospective study included 223 patients with at least 2 risk factors for atherosclerosis, divided based on the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD): 140 patients with angiographically documented CAD and 83 patients without CAD. The patients were compared with a control group of 74 healthy age-matched subjects (CON). We determined the following parameters: blood pressure, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), LDL-cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, fasting serum glucose and renal parameters: blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and uric acid levels in all patients. Arterial stiffness was measured with non-invasive oscillometric Arteriograph device (Tensiomed Ltd., Budapest, Hungary) and carotid scan was performed with B mode ultrasound. 

Results. Patients with CAD had increased values of aortic PWV compared with patients without CAD and CON group (12.5±0.7 vs 10.9±0.6 vs 8.5±0.6 m/s, all p<0.001). The values of carotid IMT were significantly higher in CAD patients as compared to patients without CAD and CON group (1±0.05 versus 1.0±0.07 versus 0.7±0.08 mm, all p<0.001). The carotid IMT significantly correlated with aortic PWV (r=0.787, p<0.001). 

Conclusions. Carotid IMT and aortic PWV are useful non invasive methods for atherosclerosis detection in patients with known cardiovascular risk factors. Both determinations in the same patient will increase the clinical relevance.