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KMID : 0377519980230040177
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Chung-Ang Journal of Medicine
1998 Volume.23 No. 4 p.177 ~ p.185
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The Influence of Age on Carotid Intimal-Medial Thickness
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Park Su-Je
Kim Sang-Wook
Kim Tae-Ho
Kim Chee-Jeong
Ryu Wang-Seong
Kim In-Seop
Lim Seong-Hoon
Heo Young-Sun
Ryoo Un-Ho
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Abstract
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Atherosclerosis is a diffuse disease process that produce thickening of the vascular wall because of intimal deposition of lipid, fibrous tissue, and calcific material and is highly associated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. An increased intimal-meterial thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery has been suggested to be an early feature of atherosckerotic disease. High resolution B-mode ultrasound has been demonstrated to be useful to detect early atherosclerosis and to follow progression or regression during interventions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of age on IMT of the carotid artery in healthy Koreans. IMT of the carotid artery was measured in 140 subjects who no history of cardiovascular diseases. The sonographic investigation of extracranial carotid arteries was performed with a 7.5 MHz Duplex prode. Subjects were classified into three groups; Group Ⅰ: age 30-49(n=41), Group Ⅱ: age 50-69(n=56), Group Ⅲ: age 70 or older(n=43). The results were as follows. 1. IMT of the carotid artery was thickest at the carotid bifurcation, and followed in order by common carotid artery, internal carotid artery. 2. There were no significant differences between males and females of the same decades in the carotid IMT. 3. Mean of the maximum IMT measurements from the 12 walls was 0.45±0.11mm in group Ⅰ, 0.55±0.15 mm in group Ⅱ, and 0.71±0.25 mm in group Ⅲ. IMT of common carotid artery was 0.45±0.12 mm in group Ⅰ, 0.50±0.11 mm in group Ⅱ, and 0.68±0.23 mm in group Ⅲ. IMT of carotid bifucation was 0.50±0.12 mm in group Ⅰ, 0.65±0.22 mm in group Ⅱ, and 0.84±0.34 mm in group Ⅲ, respectively. 4. Carotid atherosclerosis was not shown in group Ⅰ, however, in group Ⅱ, 8 subjects(14%) had carotid atherosclerotic plaques, and 12 subjects(28%) of group Ⅲ showed significant atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries. The prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques in 140 subjects was about 14 %. In conclusion, out study has shown that IMT of the carotid artery is significantly increased with age. However, IMT of the carotid artery of healthy subjects in Korea was slightly thinner, compared with western countries. B-mode ultrasonography may provide a useful tool to identify subjects prone to develop atherosclerotic disease.
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KEYWORD
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atherosclerosis, age, intimal-medial thickness
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