title: The relationship between carotid intima-media thickness and global atherosclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between (i) carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) at baseline as well as (ii) change in CIMT over 5 years (ΔCIMT) and atherosclerotically induced luminal narrowing in non-coronary arterial territories assessed by whole-body magnetic resonance angiography (WBMRA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In subgroups of the Prospective Investigation of Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) study, US measurements of CIMT in the common carotid arteries were analysed at 70 and 75 years and ΔCIMT was calculated (n = 272). WBMRA, assessing arterial stenosis in five different territories by which also a total atherosclerotic score (TAS) was calculated, was performed at 70 years (n = 306).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Carotid intima-media thickness in the carotid artery at baseline was correlated with TAS (P = 0.0001) when adjusted to a set of traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis, as well as to stenosis in two of the different investigated territories (aorta and lower leg, P = 0.013 and P = 0.004), but there was no significant correlation between ΔCIMT and TAS (P = 0.41).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, CIMT, but not ΔCIMT over 5 years, in the carotid artery was related to overall stenoses in the body, as assessed by WBMRA. These findings support CIMT as a general marker for atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Science, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lundberg
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahlström
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lind
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wikström
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johansson
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods*
keywords: CIMT; atherosclerosis; carotid arteries; magnetic resonance imaging