Relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and the echogenicity and pattern of the carotid intima-media complex in men.
OBJECTIVE
The thickness of the carotid intima-media complex (C-IMC) is considered to be a marker of early atherosclerosis, but visual and echogenic changes to the C-IMC can also be noted. The objective here was to evaluate the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and the echogenicity of the C-IMC and identify those most associated with an "abnormal" C-IMC.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study in the ultrasound sector of the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Universidade Federal de São Paulo.


METHODS
Eighty men were evaluated. Measurements of arterial blood pressure, waist circumference (WC), lipid profile, fasting glucose, uric acid and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were obtained. The thickness of the C-IMC was measured by means of B-mode ultrasound, and the intima-media gray-scale mean (IM-GSM) and standard deviation (IM-SD) were calculated.


RESULTS
The following were discriminating variables: fasting glucose (r2 = 0.036; P = 0.013), uric acid (r2 = 0.08; P = 0.03), IM-SD (r2 = 0.43; P < 0.001), IM-GSM (r2 = 0.35; P < 0.001) and thickness of the C-IMC (r2 = 0.29; P < 0.001). IM-GSM showed significant correlations with WC (r = -0.22; P = 0.005), fasting glucose (r = -0.24; P = 0.002) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (r = 0.27; P = 0.0007).


CONCLUSIONS
IM-GSM showed correlations with WC, fasting glucose and HDL-C. However, uric acid and IM-SD presented the greatest discriminating impact. These results suggest that visual changes in C-IMC may help identify patients with potential cardiovascular risk, independently of the thickness of the C-IMC.
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Priscilla Lopes da Fonseca Abrantes
PL
Sarmento
Department of Nephrology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Frida Liane
FL
Plavnik
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Andrea
A
Scaciota
Department of Statistics, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
Joab Oliveira
JO
Lima
Department of Surgery, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil.
Robson Barbosa
RB
Miranda
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Sergio Aron
SA
Ajzen
D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D055105:Waist Circumference
D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D014527:Uric Acid; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005947:Glucose