Tissue characterization identifies subjects with high risk of cardiovascular diseases.
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.
Katakami
Naoto
N
Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamadaoka 2-2, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Yamasaki
Yoshimitsu
Y
Kosugi
Keisuke
K
Waki
Hidehiko
H
Matsuhisa
Munehide
M
Kajimoto
Yoshitaka
Y
Masuyama
Tohru
T
Hori
Masatsugu
M
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