Abstract
Interventions aimed to prevent cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are more effective if administered to subjects carefully selected according to their CVD risk. Usually, this risk is evaluated on the basis of the presence and severity of conventional vascular risk factors (VRFs); however, atherosclerosis, the main pathologic substrate of CVD, is not directly revealed by VRFs. The measurement of the arterial wall, using imaging techniques, has increased the early identification of individuals prone to develop atherosclerosis and to quantify its changes over time.
B-mode ultrasound is a technique which allows a non-invasive assessment of the arterial wall of peripheral arteries (e.g. extracranial carotid arteries), and provides measures of the intima-media thickness complex (C-IMT) and additional data on the occurrence, localization and morphology of plaques.
Being an independent predictor of vascular events, C-IMT has been considered as a tool to optimize the estimation of CVD risk but this application is still a matter of debate. Though the technique is innocuous, relatively inexpensive and repeatable, its use in the clinical practice is limited by the lack of standardized protocols and clear guidelines.
This review outlines the rationale for the potential use of C-IMT in the stratification of cardio- and cerebro-vascular risk and discusses several topics related to the measurement of this variable, which are still controversial among experts of the field.
Keywords: Atherosclerosis, carotid ultrasound, carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT), cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular risk prediction.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Assessment and Relevance of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (C-IMT) in Primary and Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention
Volume: 21 Issue: 9
Author(s): Alessio Ravani, Jose Pablo Werba, Beatrice Frigerio, Daniela Sansaro, Mauro Amato, Elena Tremoli and Damiano Baldassarre
Affiliation:
Keywords: Atherosclerosis, carotid ultrasound, carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT), cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular risk prediction.
Abstract: Interventions aimed to prevent cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are more effective if administered to subjects carefully selected according to their CVD risk. Usually, this risk is evaluated on the basis of the presence and severity of conventional vascular risk factors (VRFs); however, atherosclerosis, the main pathologic substrate of CVD, is not directly revealed by VRFs. The measurement of the arterial wall, using imaging techniques, has increased the early identification of individuals prone to develop atherosclerosis and to quantify its changes over time.
B-mode ultrasound is a technique which allows a non-invasive assessment of the arterial wall of peripheral arteries (e.g. extracranial carotid arteries), and provides measures of the intima-media thickness complex (C-IMT) and additional data on the occurrence, localization and morphology of plaques.
Being an independent predictor of vascular events, C-IMT has been considered as a tool to optimize the estimation of CVD risk but this application is still a matter of debate. Though the technique is innocuous, relatively inexpensive and repeatable, its use in the clinical practice is limited by the lack of standardized protocols and clear guidelines.
This review outlines the rationale for the potential use of C-IMT in the stratification of cardio- and cerebro-vascular risk and discusses several topics related to the measurement of this variable, which are still controversial among experts of the field.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Ravani Alessio, Werba Pablo Jose, Frigerio Beatrice, Sansaro Daniela, Amato Mauro, Tremoli Elena and Baldassarre Damiano, Assessment and Relevance of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (C-IMT) in Primary and Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2015; 21 (9) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612820666141013121545
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612820666141013121545 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Treatment Strategies of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Panic Disorder/Agoraphobia
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Evaluation of the Anti-Hypercholesterolemic and Antioxidant Activity of Mentha pulegium (L.) Aqueous Extract in Normal and Streptozotocin- Induced Diabetic Rats
The Natural Products Journal Multifaceted Individualities in Pharmacological Treatments of Obesity
Current Clinical Pharmacology Hydroxyimine NO-Donors; FK409 and Derivatives
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Polycystic Ovary Syndrome as a Proinflammatory State: The Role of Adipokines
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Role of Size in Development of Mucosal Liposome-Lipopeptide Vaccine Candidates Against Group A Streptococcus
Medicinal Chemistry Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors – A Review on Pharmacology, Metabolism and Side Effects
Current Drug Metabolism Insulin Secretion and Interleukin-1β Dependent Mechanisms in Human Diabetes Remission After Metabolic Surgery
Current Medicinal Chemistry Natural Naphthoquinones with Great Importance in Medicinal Chemistry
Current Organic Synthesis Heart Rate Variability Analysis at Coronary Artery Disease and Angina Pectoris
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Low Levels of High Density Lipoprotein Increase the Severity of Cerebral White Matter Changes:Implications for Prevention and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Diseases
Current Alzheimer Research Efficacy of Chemopreventive Agents in Mouse Mammary Gland Organ Culture (MMOC) Model: A Comprehensive Review
Current Medicinal Chemistry Hypertension and Diabetes: Emphasis on the Renin-Angiotensin System in Atherosclerosis
Current Hypertension Reviews Pharmacological Characteristics and Clinical Applications of K201
Current Clinical Pharmacology Caring for Children with Medical Complexity: Definitions, Challenges and Solutions
Current Pediatric Reviews Green Synthesis of Novel Phthalimide Derivatives of Aspirin and P-aminosalicylic Acid as Potential Analgesic- antipyretic and Anti-tuberculosis Agents
Letters in Organic Chemistry Dietary Agents for Prostate Cancer Chemoprevention: An Overview
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews Improvement in Hypertension Management with Pharmacological and Non- Pharmacological Approaches: Current Perspectives
Current Pharmaceutical Design Review: Technegas - 99mTc-Metal Core Graphite Nanoparticles for Pulmonary Ventilation Imaging
Current Radiopharmaceuticals Ligand Based Validated Comparative Chemometric Modeling and Pharmacophore Mapping of Aurone Derivatives as Antimalarial Agents
Current Computer-Aided Drug Design