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(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2007;27:671.)
© 2007 American Heart Association, Inc.

Atherosclerosis and Lipoproteins

Increasing Peripheral Artery Intima Thickness From Childhood to Seniority

Walter Osika; Frida Dangardt; Julia Grönros; Ulf Lundstam; Anna Myredal; Mats Johansson; Reinhard Volkmann; Tomas Gustavsson; Li Ming Gan; Peter Friberg

From the Department of Metabolism and Cardiovascular Research/Clinical Physiology (W.O., F.D., A.M., M.J., R.V., L.M.G., P.F.), Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden; Department of Cardiology (W.O.), Örebro University Hospital, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (J.G., L.M.G.), Göteborg University, Sweden; Department of Surgery (U.L.), Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Göteborg, Sweden; Department of Internal Medicine (A.M., M.J.), Varberg Hospital, Sweden; Department of Signals and Systems (T.G.), Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden.

Correspondence to Dr Walter Osika, Department of Clinical Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Sahlgrenska, SE-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden. E-mail osika{at}hotmail.com

Background— Using new, very high-resolution ultrasound biomicroscopy, we examined the thickness of artificial layers of silicone and intima thickness (IT) of radial and anterior tibial arteries in healthy subjects and in patients with vascular disease.

Methods and Results— Silicone layers of varying thicknesses and mesenteric artery specimens obtained from 18 patients undergoing colectomy were measured by both ultrasound biomicroscopy (55 MHz) and morphometry. There was high correlation (r>0.9; P<0.0001) between IT and intima area versus ultrasound biomicroscopy. In 90 healthy subjects (aged between 10 and 90 years), radial and anterior tibial arterial IT and intima-media thickness were measured, as was carotid intima-media thickness in 56 of these subjects. Age was strongly related with both media thickness and IT of both peripheral arteries. Correlations were found between carotid intima-media thickness and both radial and anterior tibial IT/intima-media thickness (r=0.44 to 0.53; P<0.0001). The IT-to-lumen diameter ratio increased with age and was larger at all ages in the anterior tibial artery (0.067±0.034) versus the radial artery (0.036±0.012; P<0.0001). A thicker radial intimal layer was found in patients with peripheral artery disease.

Conclusion— This study is the first to our knowledge in humans to show the feasibility of measuring IT of the radial and anterior tibial arteries using very high-resolution ultrasound. IT progresses with age, and the IT-to-lumen diameter ratio is largest in the arteries of the foot. Assessment of IT by ultrasound biomicroscopy may aid in detecting early peripheral vascular abnormalities.

Using very high-resolution UBM (55 MHz), IT in peripheral arteries of both healthy subjects and patients was examined. Age was related to both MT and IT. Correlations were found between carotid IMT and IT/IMT. This new technique may aid in detecting early vascular abnormalities.

Key Words: atherosclerosis • cardiovascular disease children • intima media thickness • ultrasound

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