Echogenecity of the carotid intima-media complex is related to cardiovascular risk factors, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and inflammation: the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) study.
BACKGROUND
Increased carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), measured by ultrasound, is related to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Since presence of echolucent plaques increases the risk further, we investigated if echogenecity of the carotid intima-media complex is related to markers of cardiovascular risk. Our aim was therefore to investigate if intima-media echogenecity is related to cardiovascular risk factors, or to markers of inflammation and oxidation in an exploratory investigation.


METHODS
The PIVUS cohort study is an observational study of 1016 (509 women and 507 men) randomly chosen individuals aged 70 living in Uppsala, Sweden. Carotid artery ultrasound measurements were performed. IMT and the grey scale median (GSM) value were calculated in the intima-media complex (IM-GSM) in the far wall of the common carotid artery. Traditional risk factors were evaluated together with indices of oxidative stress and inflammation.


RESULTS
In the multiple regression analysis, HDL-cholesterol, body mass index, conjugated diens, glutathione, e-selectin and TNF alfa were significantly related to IM-GSM. IMT was independently related to blood pressure, smoking and body mass index.


CONCLUSIONS
The echolucency of the carotid intima-media was related to several cardiovascular risk factors not related to IMT, such as dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and inflammation. Since the echogenecity of the carotid intima-media complex was related to different risk factors compared to carotid IMT, it is worthwhile to further explore the usefulness of this new marker of the vascular wall.
Andersson
Jessika
J
Department of Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. jessika.andersson@medsci.uu.se
Sundström
Johan
J
Gustavsson
Thomas
T
Hulthe
Johannes
J
Elmgren
Anders
A
Zilmer
Kersti
K
Zilmer
Mihkel
M
Lind
Lars
L
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D018836:Inflammation Mediators