Carotid Intima-media Thickness Parameters Research Articles

Vascular Age as a Cardiovascular Risk Marker in Asymptomatic Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

AimThere is a wide variety of cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), even in asymptomatic individuals. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and can be considered as a predictor of cardiovascular risk (CVR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between CIMT-determined vascular age (VA), CVR scores, and thyroid function in asymptomatic patients with T2DM.Patients and MethodsClinical laboratory and CIMT parameters were measured in 154 asymptomatic patients with T2DM. The Framingham risk score (FRS) was performed with chronological age (CA) and with VA. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to analyze variables related to CVR reclassification.ResultsThe use of CIMT-determined VA led to the reclassification of 54 (35.52%) out of 152 asymptomatic T2DM patients, being 20 (37.03%) to a lower categorical risk and 34 (62.96%) to a higher categorical risk according to FRS. The variables that were associated to reclassification to a higher categorical risk were positive family history (FH) of premature coronary artery disease (p=0.046), FH of thyroid disease (p=0.010), use of statins (p=0.027), and free T4 levels (p=0.009).ConclusionVA determined from CIMT allowed the reclassification of the CVR in asymptomatic T2DM patients. FH of premature CAD, FH of known thyroid disease, use of statins, and free T4 levels were associated to a reclassification into a higher risk category. The use of doppler to perform CIMT measure is currently more accessible, especially in a low-middle income country like Brazil. However, further prospective studies must be performed to establish the predictive values of CIMT on atherosclerosis and how thyroid function acts like cardiovascular risk marker on CVR scores.

Correlation of serum C1q-tumour necrosis factor-related protein 5 levels with metabolic parameters and carotid intima-media thickness in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Recent studies have shown that cytokines secreted from adipose tissues play a role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). CTRP5 (C1q-TNF-related protein 5) is a novel adipokine that has been shown to be associated with glucose and lipid metabolism. Varying levels of CTRP5 have been reported in individuals with diabetes, obesity and coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to examine serum levels of CTRP5 and to show the relationship with cardiometabolic parameters in T2DM patients. The study included 40 T2DM patients and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. All the study participants were evaluated with respect to BMI, waist circumference, lipid profile, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), serum CTRP5 levels, carotid intima-media thickness, and hs-CRP. No statistically significant differences were found between the control group and the diabetic group in terms of age, sex, or BMI. Serum CTRP5 levels (T2DM = 94.55 ± 28.70ng/ml, control = 76.02 ± 27.22ng/ml, P = 0.004*) were significantly higher in the group of newly diagnosed diabetic patients. A positive correlation was found between CTRP5 and the cardiometabolic parameters of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), hs-CRP, HOMA-IR and BMI. Regression analysis results showed that CTRP5 levels were independently correlated with insulin resistance estimated by HOMA-IR. Serum CTRP5 levels were correlated with cardiometabolic parameters and could therefore be a promising indicator of metabolic status and a possible biomarker of insulin resistance. However, the contradictory results reported in different studies indicate the need for further research to assess the significance of CTRP5 for diagnosis and monitoring of treatment efficacy.

INTIMA-MEDIA THICKNESS OF THE CAROTID ARTERIES IS AFFECTED BY PUBERTAL MATURATION IN HEALTHY ADOLESCENTS.

ABSTRACTObjective: To contribute to the assessment of normal parameters of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in healthy adolescents.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted through clinical, laboratory and ultrasound evaluation in 61 healthy adolescents. The inclusion criteria consisted of being in good health. The exclusion criteria were: presence or history of any chronic disease; being obese or overweight according to the World Health Organization (WHO) established criterion; continuous use of medication; or presenting a febrile condition or requiring medication within 48-hours prior to assessment. The pubertal stages were evaluated using the Tanner criteria. The high-resolution B-mode ultrasound examinations were performed according to the recommendations of the Consensus Statement from the American Society of Echocardiography Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Task Force.Results: Adolescents were 14±2.6 years old, 62.3% female, 19 (31%) at early puberty (Tanner II and III), and 38 (62%) at late puberty (Tanner IV and V). They presented normal clinical and laboratorial parameters. CIMT values were 0.46±0.04 to 0.55±0.04 mm on the right and 0.48±0.02 to 0.53±0.04 mm on the left, according to pubertal maturation. CIMT values increased significantly on the right and left sides, according to pubertal stage (p<0.001 and p=0.016), and maximum internal diameters of the common carotid artery (p<0.025 and p<0.003). It was higher in males compared to females.Conclusions: An increase in CIMT in the healthy adolescents group, according to both age, and the degree of pubertal maturation should be considered when evaluating adolescents in diagnostic procedures.

Rationale and design of a multicenter randomized controlled study to evaluate the preventive effect of ipragliflozin on carotid atherosclerosis: the PROTECT study.

BackgroundType 2 diabetes mellitus is associated strongly with an increased risk of micro- and macro-vascular complications, leading to impaired quality of life and shortened life expectancy. In addition to appropriate glycemic control, multi-factorial intervention for a wide range of risk factors, such as hypertension and dyslipidemia, is crucial for management of diabetes. A recent cardiovascular outcome trial in diabetes patients with higher cardiovascular risk demonstrated that a SGLT2 inhibitor markedly reduced mortality, but not macro-vascular events. However, to date there is no clinical evidence regarding the therapeutic effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on arteriosclerosis. The ongoing PROTECT trial was designed to assess whether the SGLT2 inhibitors, ipragliflozin, prevented progression of carotid intima-media thickness in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.MethodsA total of 480 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus with a HbA1c between 6 and 10 % despite receiving diet/exercise therapy and/or standard anti-diabetic agents for at least 3 months, will be randomized systematically (1:1) into either ipragliflozin or control (continuation of conventional therapy) groups. After randomization, ipragliflozin (50–100 mg once daily) will be added on to the background therapy in participants assigned to the ipragliflozin group. The primary endpoint of the study is the change in mean intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery from baseline to 24 months. Images of carotid intima-media thickness will be analyzed at a central core laboratory in a blinded manner. The key secondary endpoints include the change from baseline in other parameters of carotid intima-media thickness, various metabolic parameters, and renal function. Other cardiovascular functional tests are also planned for several sub-studies.DiscussionThe PROTECT study is the first to assess the preventive effect of ipragliflozin on progression of carotid atherosclerosis using carotid intima-media thickness as a surrogate marker. The study has potential to clarify the protective effects of ipragliflozin on atherosclerosis.Trial registration Unique Trial Number, UMIN000018440 (https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000021348)Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12933-016-0449-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Incident ESRD: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.

Carotid intima-media thickness has been reported to predict kidney function decline. However, whether carotid intima-media thickness is associated with a hard kidney end point, ESRD, has not been investigated. We studied 13,197 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities participants at visit 1 (1987-1989) without history of cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure, at baseline and assessed whether carotid intima-media thickness measured by B-mode ultrasound is associated with ESRD risk using Cox proportional hazards models. Regarding carotid intima-media thickness parameters, we investigated the mean and maximum values of overall and segment-specific (common, bifurcation, and internal carotid arteries) measurements. Mean age was 54.0 (SD=5.7) years old, and there were 3373 (25.6%) blacks and 7370 (55.8%) women. During a median follow-up of 22.7 years, 433 participants developed ESRD (1.4/1000 person-years). After adjusting for shared risk factors for atherosclerosis and kidney disease, including baseline kidney function, carotid intima-media thickness was significantly associated with ESRD risk (hazard ratio [HR] between quartiles 4 and 1, 1.46; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.02 to 2.08 for overall mean intima-media thickness and HR between quartiles 4 and 1, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.24 to 2.48 for overall maximum intima-media thickness). The associations were largely consistent in demographic and clinical subgroups. When we explored segment-specific intima-media thicknesses, the associations with ESRD were most robust for bifurcation carotid (e.g., adjusted HR between quartiles 4 and 1 of mean intima-media thickness, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.04 to 2.13 for bifurcation; adjusted HR between quartiles 4 and 1 of mean intima-media thickness, 1.36; 95% CI, 0.94 to 1.97 for common; and adjusted HR between quartiles 4 and 1 of mean intima-media thickness, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.67 to 1.29 for internal). Carotid intima-media thickness was independently associated with incident ESRD in the general population, suggesting the shared etiology of atherosclerosis and ESRD.

Abstract P218: Carotid Intima-media Thickness and Incident End-stage Renal Disease: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Introduction: Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) has been reported to predict kidney function decline. However, whether carotid IMT is associated with a hard kidney endpoint, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), has not been investigated. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that increased carotid IMT is associated with ESRD risk. Methods: We studied 13,197 ARIC participants at visit 1 (1987-1989) without history of cardiovascular disease including coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure and assessed whether carotid IMT measured by B-mode ultrasound is associated with ESRD risk using Cox proportional-hazards models. Regarding carotid IMT parameters, we investigated the mean and maximum values of overall and segment-specific (common, bifurcation and internal carotid arteries) measurements. Results: Mean age was 54.0 (SD 5.7) years, and there were 3,373 (25.6%) blacks and 7,370 (55.8%) women. During a median follow-up of 22.7 years, 433 participants developed ESRD (1.4/1,000 person-years). After adjusting for shared risk factors for atherosclerosis and kidney disease, including baseline kidney function, carotid IMT was significantly associated with ESRD risk (hazard ratios between quartiles 4 and 1, 1.43 [95%CI: 1.01-2.04] for overall mean IMT and 1.73 [95%CI: 1.22-2.44] for overall maximum IMT). The associations were largely consistent in demographic and clinical subgroups. When we explored segment-specific IMTs, the associations with ESRD were most robust for bifurcation carotid. The adjusted hazard ratios between quartiles 4 and 1 were 1.48 (95%CI: 1.04-2.11) for mean bifurcation IMT and 1.42 (95%CI: 0.99-2.03) for maximum bifurcation IMT. Conclusions: Carotid IMT was independently associated with incident ESRD in the general population. Our findings suggest the shared etiology between atherosclerosis and ESRD and highlight the importance of monitoring kidney function over time in individuals with subclinical atherosclerosis.