title: Risk Factors of Aortic Plaque Progression Evaluated by Long-Term Follow-Up Data With Transesophageal Echocardiography.
abstract: There are few longitudinal data regarding aortic plaque. This study aimed to examine chronological changes in aortic plaques with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), and to clarify the risk factors of aortic plaque progression. Among 2,675 consecutive patients who underwent TEE, we retrospectively investigated 252 patients who underwent follow-up TEE with an interval >3 years. The thickness and morphology of aortic plaques were examined. Chronological changes in aortic plaques were investigated by comparing baseline and follow-up TEE. Clinical factors, laboratory data, and medications were evaluated. Among 252 study patients, the grade of aortic plaques was unchanged in 213 (group U), but progression was observed in 32 (group P) and regression in 7 patients (group R). Patients in group P were older; they had a higher prevalence of coronary artery disease, hypertension, smoking habit, and moderate or severe plaque at baseline TEE; more patients were using statins and no warfarin; and they had higher creatinine levels than those in group U. In multivariate analysis, moderate or severe plaques at baseline TEE were the strongest predictor of plaque progression. Among 50 patients who showed moderate or severe plaque at baseline TEE, smoking habit and no anticoagulation therapy were predictors of plaque progression. In conclusion, aortic plaques should be followed up using TEE in patients with moderate or severe plaque at baseline TEE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Japan. Electronic address: izumi-ch@tenriyorozu.jp.
authors.forename: Chisato
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amano
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Japan.
authors.forename: Hayato
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsutani
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Japan.
authors.forename: Sumiyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hashiwada
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuyo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuwano
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Japan.
authors.forename: Maiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuroda
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Onishi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Japan.
authors.forename: Yodo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tamaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Japan.
authors.forename: Soichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Enomoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaitani
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
mesh_terms: D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018450:Disease Progression; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index