Progression Of Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis Research Articles

3-D power mode ultrasound for the quantification of progression of carotid artery atherosclerosis: U. Schminke, L. Motsch, B. Griewing, M. Gaull, Ch. Kessler. Department of Neurology, University of Greifswald, Germany

3-D power mode ultrasound for the quantification of progression of carotid artery atherosclerosis: U. Schminke, L. Motsch, B. Griewing, M. Gaull, Ch. Kessler. Department of Neurology, University of Greifswald, Germany

The Use of Zofenopril and Fosinopril in Acute Myocardial Infarction and Carotid Artery Disease

The potential of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to protect the heart is a topic that has emerged recently as matter of scientific discussion. Experimental and clinical studies have shown the beneficial effects of ACE inhibitors on the metabolism, function, and structure of healthy and damaged hearts and these studies support the concept of both primary and secondary "cardioprotection" with these drugs. More recently, the prevention of atherosclerotic lesions has been demonstrated in animal models, extending the concept to a more general definition of "cardiovascular" protection with ACE inhibitors involving both the heart and the vessels. The potential role of ACE inhibitors on the primary prevention of atherosclerotic disease in humans is currently evaluated in PHYLLIS (Plaque HYpertension Lipid Lowering Italian Study), a multicenter clinical trial in which fosinopril sodium, a new ACE inhibitor, is administered to hypertensive patients with at least one uncomplicated carotid artery lesion. The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of the drug on the long-term (3 years) progression of carotid artery atherosclerosis, noninvasively detected by B-mode ultrasound imaging. In addition to studies on primary prevention, some large clinical trials have been conducted to establish the role of ACE inhibitors on secondary prevention, in particular in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). The beneficial effect of these drugs is well established when administered in the subacute phase of acute MI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Detection and monitoring of asymptomatic atherosclerosis in clinical trials

Methods are currently available to noninvasively detect and evaluate asymptomatic atherosclerosis in the carotid artery, and provide a unique opportunity to monitor the effect of medical intervention during the early stages of atherosclerotic progression. When using high-resolution B-mode ultrasound to monitor lesion change over time, it is the reproducibility of measurements at the arterial wall and lumen that defines the confidence of establishing rates of disease progression. Previous studies have demonstrated that, in a research environment using standardized protocols for scanning and interpretation, the absolute difference between blinded replicate measurements of arterial wall thicknesses at sites of lesion is less than 0.2 mm. The Multicenter Isradipine Diuretic Atherosclerosis Study will use high-resolution B-mode ultrasound to determine the effect of isradipine and hydrochlorothiazide on the rate of progression of carotid artery atherosclerosis in hypertensive subjects. Methods for scanning and interpretation of arterial wall thickenings are presented.