Intimomedial thickness of the vertebral arteries complex: A new useful parameter for the assessment of atheroclerotic process?
2011
Bacground/Aim. An integral part of Doppler ultrasound examination of cervical
blood vessels is determination of intimomedial thicknes (IMT) of the common
carotid. The aim of the study was to estimate the relations between IMT of
the common carotid and vertebral arteries in order to determine if the value
of IMT obtained on the vertebral artery could be applied in clinical
practice. Methods. We measured IMT in a randomized, prospective and
crosssectional study, performed on 50 persons both sexes (29 men and 21
women), at the age from 18 to 79 years (mean age 52.4 ± 17.63 years). All the
persons were healthy, what was confirmed with clinical examination and
laboratory analyses. Measurements were perfomed from January 2006 until
September 2008. Intimomedial thickness was recorded by twodimensional
ultrasonography in B-mode on both common carotid arteries: one value was
obtained as average of three successeful measurements (measurements were
perform on different places). We measured IMT on the first segment of both
vertebral arteries, 1.5 cm proximal from the connection of the first and
second segments (we got results of the measurement of IMT on the vertebral
arteries in the same way: mean value from the three records). Results. (IMT =
0.782 ± 0.248 mm), obtained from 50 healthy persons, was higher than that
measured on the vertabral artery on the first segment (IMT = 0.585 ± 0.134
mm). The values of IMT after measurement on two different places were
statistically highly different (t = 7.03, SD = 0.028, p < 0.01). Coefficient
of variability of IMT values in carotid circulation (CV = 34.4%) was higher
than that in vertebral circulation (22.9%). Values of IMT on vertebral
arteries were in statistically significant correlation with those in carotid
circulation (r = 0.24 and t- = 2.48; p < 0.02). There were no statistically
significant difference between IMT measurement on the right and the left side
so they were analysed as the same set Conclusion. Values of IMT on the
vertebral arteries are one more undependent parameter of doplersonographic
examination of cervical vessels, which significantly correlates with IMT
values on common carotid artery. Variability of this parameter is lower, and
absolute values lower than the same in the common carotid artery. Therefore,
this parameter is probably not so sensitive. On the other hand, lower
variability of IMT values on the vertebral artery might be of higher
specificity for prediction of atherosclerotic progress by the increased
values of this parameter than based on IMT values obtained on the common
carotid arteries.
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