title: Progression of calcifications in breast arteries in women at high risk for coronary heart disease events.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study changes in breast artery calcifications (BAC) over time and its relation with coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Breast arterial calcifications were studied at baseline and after five years follow-up in 453 women participating in the Raloxifene Use for The Heart (RUTH) study. All mammograms were scored by two observers. With logistic regression analysis the independent effect of risk factors on the progression of BAC was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BAC was present in 94 of 453 (21%) women at baseline and in 116 of 453 (26%) women after 5.0±1.04 years. Progression of BAC was seen in 44 of 453 (10%) women. In 22 participants (5%) BAC was not present at baseline, while in 22 participants (5%) the severity of BAC merely changed from grade 1 to grade 2 calcification. Age was significantly associated with progression of BAC (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.14). Multivariate regression analysis with adjustment for age and the duration of follow-up showed no association between CHD risk factors and the progression of BAC. Lipid-lowering drugs protected for progression (adjusted OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.98). The strongest determinant in the progression of BAC was BAC at baseline (adjusted OR 4.2, 95% CI 2.10 to 8.27).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Progression of BAC is not associated with CHD risk factors, but with increasing age and BAC at baseline. Lipid-lowering drugs protect against progression of BAC.
authors.forename: A H E M
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Maas
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: van der Schouw
authors.forename: W P Th M
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Mali
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: van der Graaf
keywords: atherosclerosis; calcification; mammogram; progression; risk factor