[Study of diagnostic criteria of intima-media thickening and effects of drugs on peripheral arteries].
OBJECTIVE
To establish the diagnostic criteria of intima-media thickening (IMT) of the carotid artery, femoral artery and thoracic aorta in normal subjects and evaluate the effects of drugs on IMT in patients with atherosclerosis with high-frequency ultrasound imaging.


METHODS
259 normal subjects and 102 patients with atherosclerosis (AS) were studied. 134 normal subjects were examined by transesophegeal echocardiography. 102 patients with AS were randomly divided into 4 groups:simvastatin group, probucol group, captopril group, and placebo group. The values of IMT, including IMT of the normal segment (IMT(A)) and the maximal IMT of each artery (IMT(B)) of the carotid and femoral arteries, and thoracic aorta, the mean maximal IMT of the 4 arteries (IMT(C)), and the single maximal IMT among the 4 arteries (IMT(D)) were measured. The examinations were repeated in 3 years after treatments.


RESULTS
In carotid, and femoral arteries and thoracic aorta, IMT increased with aging. The IMT values of the carotid and femoral arteries and thoracic aorta were 0.63 mm +/- 0.15 mm, 0.68 mm +/- 0.21 mm, 1.02 mm +/- 0.22 mm respectively with the upper limits of 0.93 mm, 1.10 mm, and 1.46 mm respectively. IMT(A) increased 0.023 mm per year. The progression value of IMT(D) in all therapeutic groups were significantly lower than that of the control group (all P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that the IMT > 0.93 mm, > 1.10 mm, and > 1.46 mm is be defined as indicators of IMT in carotid and femoral arteries and thoracic aorta respectively. Drug therapy can decrease the progression of atherosclerosis but has no effects on the IMT in normal segment of arteries. High frequency ultrasound technique is reliable in monitoring the progression or regression of atherosclerosis in peripheral arteries.
Zhang
Mei
M
Department of Cardiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
Zhang
Yun
Y
Zhang
Wei
W
Zhao
Yu-xia
YX
Gao
Yue-hua
YH
Zhang
Yuan-yuan
YY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002216:Captopril / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012015:Reference Standards; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D002216:Captopril; D019821:Simvastatin