title: Parental history of premature myocardial infarction is a stronger predictor of increased carotid intima-media thickness than parental history of hypertension.
abstract: An increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is detectable in young subjects with parental history of premature myocardial infarction (PHPMI) or hypertension (PHH). In this study we evaluated if PHPMI and PHH exert a different influence on carotid IMT and if their conjunction produces additive effects. High-resolution B-mode ultrasonographic evaluation of common carotid artery IMT was acquired from 48 subjects without PHPMI and PHH (22 males, 26 females; mean age 22.1±4.9 years; controls), 24 age- (±1 year) and sex-matched subjects with PHH without PHPMI (PHH-positive/PHPMI-negative subjects), 24 age- and sex-matched subjects with PHPMI without PHH (PHH-negative/PHPMI-positive subjects) and 24 age- and sex-matched subjects with both PHPMI and PHH (PHH/PHPMI-positive subjects). Lipid profile, resting blood pressure, smoking behaviour and body mass index (BMI) were also assessed. Carotid IMT was smaller in controls (0.41±0.07mm) compared to PHH-positive/PHPMI-negative subjects (0.47±0.10, p=0.023), to PHH-negative/PHPMI-positive subjects (0.54±0.11, p<0.001) and to PHH/PHPMI-positive subjects (0.52±0.10mm, p<0.001). Carotid IMT was greater in PHH-negative/PHPMI-positive (p=0.006) and in PHH/PHPMI-positive (p=0.031) than in PHH-positive/PHPMI-negative subjects. No difference in carotid IMT was evident between PHH-negative/PHPMI-positive and PHH/PHPMI-positive subjects (p=0.549). In the comparison among subjects using multiple regression analysis, only PHPMI, age and BMI were independently associated with carotid IMT. In healthy young subjects with PHPMI and/or PHH, carotid IMT is increased. PHPMI is a stronger predictor of increased carotid IMT than PHH. PHH in conjunction with PHPMI does not add any further detrimental effect on carotid IMT.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, A. Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barra
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gaeta
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cuomo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guarini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cuomo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Capozzi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tudisca
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Madrid
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trevisan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000473:pathology*; D010290:Parents; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol