title: Significance of the presence of metabolic syndrome in patients with asymptomatic arteriosclerosis affecting the aorta and the cerebral, extra-cranial carotid and coronary arteries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is strongly associated with stroke and cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship between MetS and the localization of atherosclerosis at various sites remains uncertain. In this study, in order to reveal the relevance of MetS to atherosclerosis at several sites, we investigated the relationships among vascular risk factors, asymptomatic cerebral infarction and atherosclerosis in the aorta and carotid and coronary arteries in adults without overtly symptomatic cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects in this study included 2,759 Japanese participants (1,845 men and 914 women, mean age: 52 years) with no history of stroke or cardiovascular events. The diagnosis of MetS was made based on modifications to criteria obtained from the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel. In all subjects, the presence of cerebral infarction in the extra-cranial carotid, coronary and aortic arteries was investigated using MRI, B-mode ultrasonography and CT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 2,759 subjects, 796 (28.9%) fulfilled the criteria for MetS. The presence of MetS increased the odds ratio (OR) to 1.89 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.35-2.65, p-value <0.0001) for asymptomatic cerebral infarction, 1.70 (95% CI: 1.37-2.10, p-value <0.0001) for carotid arteriosclerosis, 2.07 (95% CI: 1.62-2.27, p-value <0.0001) for coronary calcification and 1.67 (95% CI: 1.33-2.09, p-value<0.0001) for aortic calcification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of MetS was found to be significantly correlated with arteriosclerosis in all regions, including the cerebral small-vessels, extra-cranial carotid arteries, coronary arteries and abdominal aorta. MetS might be a predictor for small and large vessel disease throughout the body.
authors: Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Japan. t-onuki@is.icc.u-tokai.ac.jp
authors: Tomohide
authors: T
authors: Ohnuki
authors: Wakoh
authors: W
authors: Takahashi
authors: Youichi
authors: Y
authors: Ohnuki
authors: Shiaki
authors: S
authors: Kawada
authors: Shunya
authors: S
authors: Takizawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000473:pathology*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged