Echo-lucency of computerized ultrasound images of carotid atherosclerotic plaques are associated with increased levels of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins as well as increased plaque lipid content
| Autor: | Marie-Louise M. Grønholdt, Børge G. Nordestgaard, Jens E. Wilhjelm, H. Sillesen, Britt M Wiebe |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 1998 |
| Předmět: |
Carotid Artery Diseases
Male medicine.medical_specialty Very low-density lipoprotein Arteriosclerosis medicine.medical_treatment Lipoproteins chemistry.chemical_compound Chylomicron remnant Physiology (medical) Internal medicine medicine Humans Triglycerides Endarterectomy Ultrasonography Intermediate-density lipoprotein Endarterectomy Carotid business.industry Cholesterol Reproducibility of Results Cholesterol LDL Middle Aged medicine.disease Lipids Postprandial Endocrinology Carotid Arteries chemistry Cardiology Female Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine business Lipoprotein |
| Zdroj: | Technical University of Denmark Orbit |
| ISSN: | 0009-7322 |
| Popis: | Background —Echo-lucency of carotid atherosclerotic plaques on computerized ultrasound B-mode images has been associated with a high incidence of brain infarcts as evaluated on CT scans. We tested the hypotheses that triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in the fasting and postprandial state predict carotid plaque echo-lucency and that echo-lucency predicts a high plaque lipid content. Methods and Results —The study included 137 patients with neurological symptoms and ≥50% stenosis of the relevant carotid artery. High-resolution B-mode ultrasound images of carotid plaques were computer processed to yield a measure of echogenicity (gray-scale level). Lipoproteins were measured before and hourly for 4 hours after a standardized fatty meal. A subgroup of 58 patients underwent endarterectomy. On linear regression analysis, echo-lucency (low gray-scale level) was associated with elevated levels of fasting and postprandial plasma triglycerides ( P =.0002 and P =.002), IDL cholesterol ( P =.0009 and P =.006), and VLDL/chylomicron remnant cholesterol ( P =.0003 and P =.0004) and triglycerides ( P =.0003 and P =.003), the area under the plasma triglyceride curve 0 to 4 hours after a fatty meal ( P =.001), and body mass index ( P =.0001). On ANCOVA, body mass index, fasting IDL cholesterol, and fasting plasma triglycerides were independent predictors of echo-lucency. Echo-lucency was associated with increased relative plaque lipid content ( P =.02). Conclusions —Increased plasma levels of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins predict echo-lucency of carotid plaques, which is associated with increased plaque lipid content. Because echo-lucency has been associated with a high incidence of brain infarcts on CT scans, triglyceride-rich lipoproteins may predict a plaque type particularly vulnerable to rupture. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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