title: Validation of High-Resolution Ultrasound Measurements of Intima-Media Thickness of the Radial Artery for the Assessment of Structural Remodeling.
abstract: Radial artery (RA) intima-media thickness (IMT) could be used to study short- and long-term structural vascular adaptation following transradial cardiac catheterization. We aimed at assessing the reliability and reproducibility of RA-IMT measurement. Using high-resolution ultrasound, we studied RA-IMT in 17 patients, who underwent transradial catheterization via the right RA 1 to 12 months before. Radial artery intima-media thickness was measured in both arms, with the left RA as control. Repeated measurements were performed by 2 examiners and offline analyses were performed by independent blinded interpreters. Radial artery intima-media thickness was highly reliable with an interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.911 [0.870-0.939], a high examiner (ICCexaminer 0.910 [0.883-0.931]), and interpreter agreement (ICCinterpreter 0.963 [0.954-0.971]). Intima-media thickness at the radial access site was significantly increased compared with the contralateral RA (0.30 ± 0.056 vs 0.41 ± 0.055 mm, P < .00001). Radial artery intima-media thickness can be measured reliably using high-resolution ultrasound. Initial data suggest that transradial catheterization leads to long-term structural adaption processes.
authors.affiliation: Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany emilia.stegemann@t-online.de.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stegemann
authors.affiliation: Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sansone
authors.affiliation: Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stegemann
authors.affiliation: Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kelm
authors.affiliation: Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heiss
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D066253:Vascular Remodeling
keywords: intima–media thickness; radial artery; reliability; reproducibility; transradial catheterization