title: Large extracoronary artery diameter in obese postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the association between extracoronary artery diameter (brachial and carotid arteries) and obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study conducted among women referred to the Menopause Clinic of the University of Catanzaro. The study included 102 obese and 102 nonobese (controls) postmenopausal women. Medical histories were reviewed, and participants underwent clinical and biochemical evaluations to assess risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Common carotid artery and brachial artery diameters and atherosclerotic lesions were evaluated by ultrasonography. Associations between brachial artery and common carotid artery diameters with age, body mass index, waist circumference, and cardiovascular risk factors were analyzed by stepwise multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Brachial and common carotid artery diameters were significantly greater in obese women than in nonobese women. After adjustment for confounding variables, brachial artery diameter but not common carotid artery diameter correlated with obesity (beta = 0.229, P = 0.002) and with waist circumference (beta = 0.013, P < 0.001) independently of systolic blood pressure and other risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extracoronary artery diameter measurement, if confirmed by other studies, may be considered a useful tool to assess vascular remodeling in obese postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy. tmontalcini@unicz.it
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Montalcini
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fava
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castagna
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gorgone
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gazzaruso
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pujia
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size; D017698:Postmenopause; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography