title: Tissue characterization identifies subjects with high risk of cardiovascular diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to examine whether tissue characterization of the carotid artery wall by determining integrated backscatter (IBS) can identify subjects with a recent history of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or atherothrombotic infarction (ATI).
  
  
  METHODS
  The maximum thickness (Max-IMT) and IBS value (corrected-IBS) of the carotid artery intima-media complex were measured ultrasonographically for 132 type 2 diabetic subjects (62.9+/-8.5 (+/-S.D.) years old, 87 men and 45 women) with or without cardiovascular diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The diabetic patients with recent ACS or ATI had a significantly lower corrected-IBS and higher Max-IMT than those with Max-IMT > or = 1.1mm but without cardiovascular diseases. The product of Max-IMT and corrected-IBS (IMT-IBS product) of the patients with recent ACS was significantly lower than that of the patients with chronic stable angina. The multiple logistic model showed that only the IMT-IBS product was associated with a recent history of ACS (odds ratio 0.94, P<0.05) and ATI (odds ratio 0.90, P<0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diabetic patients who had a recent history of ACS or ATI showed a lower IBS value and higher IMT for their carotid artery. Both the size and tissue characteristics of the carotid plaque may identify subjects with a high risk of cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamadaoka 2-2, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katakami
authors.forename: Yoshimitsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kosugi
authors.forename: Hidehiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Waki
authors.forename: Munehide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuhisa
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kajimoto
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masuyama
authors.forename: Masatsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hori
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000473:pathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000473:pathology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology