[Structural arterial abnormalities in the offspring of subjects with premature myocardial infarction].
The offspring of patients with premature myocardial infarction are at increased risk for atherosclerosis and its clinical sequelae. High resolution B-mode ultrasonography is considered a reliable method for measuring intima-media thickness of common carotid arteries, a valuable marker of early atherosclerosis. Few recently published studies have evaluated the relationship between familial history of coronary artery disease and carotid intima-media thickness showing that anatomical arterial changes are detectable in subjects with such a history, independently from other well established coronary artery disease risk factors. These findings suggest that carotid intima-media thickness measurement, added to evaluation of classical coronary risk factors, may be useful to better identify high risk subjects.
Gaeta
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Unità Operativa di Cardiologia, Azienda Ospedaliera di Rilievo Nazionale e di Alta Specializzazione Antonio Cardarelli, Napoli. giovanni.gaeta@tin.it
Barra
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D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000235:genetics*