Association of atherosclerotic risk factors with carotid adventitial thickness assessed by ultrasonography.
OBJECTIVE
There is increasing evidence that adventitial inflammation may participate in atherosclerosis development. The aim of this study was to investigate which atherosclerotic risk factors correlated with carotid adventitial thickness (AT) and to compare them with those associated with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). We also set out to test the hypothesis that there is a significant correlation between IMT and AT in the carotid arteries.


METHODS
The far carotid artery wall IMT and AT were measured by high-resolution B-mode ultrasound in 128 persons (mean, 65 +/- 8 years). A number of conventional and novel, clinically and laboratory-derived risk factors were assessed.


RESULTS
Significant correlation (r = 0.35, p < 0.0001) was demonstrated between the IMT and AT. The stepwise forward multiple regression analysis revealed correlations between IMT and leukocyte count, C-reactive protein level, and hypertension, whereas the Chlamydia (C.) pneumoniae IgA antibodies and fibrinogen levels, gender, and smoking correlated merely with AT. The homocysteine/methionine ratio correlated with both IMT and AT.


CONCLUSIONS
The association between IMT and AT may reflect an interaction between intimal, medial, and adventitial pathology. Different risk factors are associated with the increased AT or IMT. It is possible that inflammation and some chronic infections, such as those induced by C. pneumoniae, could have a marked influence on adventitial cell proliferation.
Kazmierski
Radoslaw
R
Department of Neurology and Cerebrovascular Disorders, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, L. Bierkowski Hospital, Poznan, Poland.
Watala
Cezary
C
Podsiadly
Edyta
E
Dorszewska
Jolanta
J
Kozubski
Wojciech
W
D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D007249:Inflammation; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D006710:Homocysteine; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008715:Methionine