title: Correlation of large artery intracranial occlusive disease with carotid intima-media thickness and presence of carotid plaque.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Large artery intracranial occlusive disease (LAICOD) is a predominant cause of ischemic stroke in China. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and presence of carotid plaque are also related to subsequent ischemic stroke. However, the correlation between these and LAICOD is less clear.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a community-based cross-sectional study. All subjects underwent carotid duplex ultrasonography and transcranial Doppler. Mean CIMT value of bilateral common carotid arteries was used. Plaque was defined as a focal CIMT of >1.5 mm. LAICOD in transcranial Doppler was defined by peak systolic velocity and age, and presence of turbulence or musical sound was also considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the 537 subjects studied (mean age, 54.7±10.1 years; 46.9% males), mean CIMT was 0.74±0.12 mm, with the 75th percentile of 0.80 mm. CIMT ≥1.0 mm was identified in 13 subjects (2.4%). Plaques were detected in 79 subjects (14.7%). Compared with those without LAICOD, the 48 subjects (8.9%) with LAICOD had greater CIMTs (0.77±0.09 versus 0.73±0.12 mm; P=0.044), more with CIMT of higher quartiles (P=0.007), and more with carotid plaques (25.0% versus 13.7%; P=0.035). However, after adjusting for confounding factors, CIMT and presence of carotid plaque were not significantly associated with LAICOD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that CIMT and presence of carotid plaque probably are not independently correlated with LAICOD in Chinese community residents, which supported the existence of pathologic and pathophysiologic differences in atherogenesis of intra- and extracranial arteries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Xin Yi
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.forename: Xiang Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chook
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Wen Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jing Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tomlinson
authors.forename: G Neil
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Tai Hing
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Karen S L
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Bernard M Y
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Ka Sing
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness / Q000009:adverse effects; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020765:Intracranial Arterial Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies