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Progression of human carotid and femoral atherosclerosis: a prospective follow-up study by magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging.
- Source :
-
European heart journal [Eur Heart J] 2012 Jan; Vol. 33 (2), pp. 230-7. Date of Electronic Publication: 2011 Sep 14. - Publication Year :
- 2012
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Abstract
- Aims: The time course of atherosclerosis burden in distinct vascular territories remains poorly understood. We longitudinally evaluated the natural history of atherosclerotic progression in two different arterial territories using high spatial resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI), a powerful, safe, and non-invasive tool.<br />Methods and Results: We prospectively studied a cohort of 30 patients (mean age 68.3, n = 9 females) with high Framingham general cardiovascular disease 10-year risk score (29.5%) and standard medical therapy with mild-to-moderate atherosclerosis intra-individually at the level of both carotid and femoral arteries. A total of 178 HR-MRI studies of carotid and femoral arteries performed at baseline and at 1- and 2-year follow-up were evaluated in consensus reading by two experienced readers for lumen area (LA), total vessel area (TVA), vessel wall area (VWA = TVA - LA), and normalized wall area index (NWI = VWA/TVA). At the carotid level, LA decreased (-3.19%/year, P = 0.018), VWA increased (+3.83%/year, P = 0.019), and TVA remained unchanged. At the femoral level, LA remained unchanged, VWA and TVA increased (+5.23%/year and +3.11%/year, both P < 0.01), and NWI increased for both carotid and femoral arteries (+2.28%/year, P = 0.01, and +1.8%/year, P = 0.033).<br />Conclusion: The atherosclerotic burden increased significantly in both carotid and femoral arteries. However, carotid plaque progression was associated with negative remodelling, whereas the increase in femoral plaque burden was compensated by positive remodelling. This finding could be related to anatomic and flow differences and/or to the distinct degree of obstruction in the two arterial territories.
- Subjects :
- Aged
Disease Progression
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Angiography methods
Male
Middle Aged
Observer Variation
Plaque, Atherosclerotic pathology
Prospective Studies
Atherosclerosis pathology
Carotid Artery, Common pathology
Carotid Artery, Internal pathology
Carotid Stenosis pathology
Femoral Artery pathology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1522-9645
- Volume :
- 33
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- European heart journal
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 21920966
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehr332