Localization and Sequence of Development of Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Carotid and Vertebral Arteries

Abstract

SUMMARYThe distribution of fatty streaks, fibrous plaques, complicated lesions, and calcified lesions were determined for each of five segments in the common carotid arteries, each of five segments of internal carotid arteries, and for each of seven segments of vertebral arteries in specimens from 961 autopsied cases in Oslo, Norway, and Guatemala.

George Lyman Duff Memorial Lecture. Arterial imaging and atherosclerosis reversal.

“…Formation of fatty streaks and early fibrotic lesions in the carotid artery is influenced by position within the vessel but not by sex. Fig 5 and other IAP data 86 indicate that advanced complicated lesions are significantly less frequent in the distal CCA than in the internal carotid artery. Ku et al 87 demonstrated that flow separation at the carotid bifurcation accelerates lesion progression.…”

“…1617 The distal CCA lags behind the carotid bulb and internal carotid artery in formation of intrusive lesions but has a high prevalence of fatty streaks and fibrous plaques in populations both at high and low risk for atherosclerosis. 86 By taking advantage of early preintrusive atherosclerotic lesion formation in the distal CCA, CLAS and MARS findings indicate that B-mode ultrasonography using a fully automated, computerized, edge-detection method for measurement of IMT can augment studies of coronary artery intrusive lesions. CLAS is the first randomized, placebo-controlled, lipid-lowering study to demonstrate treatment benefit on carotid atherosclerosis using a noninvasive end point derived from ultrasound images of the arterial wall.…”

“…8385 Fig 4, also from the IAP, 86 compares fatty streaks and fibrotic lesions in five divisions of the common and internal carotid arteries. Four hundred twenty-seven men from Oslo, an area with a high risk of atherosclerosis, are compared with 161 men from Guatemala, a low-risk area.…”

Association of central obesity with early Carotid intima-media thickening is independent of that from other risk factors

“…This thickening may be because of matrix deposition in the intima and/or medial muscle hypertrophy. 23 As with the metabolic risk factor levels, most carotid IMT measurements were within 'acceptable' normal ranges (o1 mm), 24 which also suggests that there is a continuum of vascular disease changes. Visceral obesity has been linked with carotid disease.…”

Westernization of Chinese Adults and Increased Subclinical Atherosclerosis

“…5,6,9,27 Although actual plaque formation is more often seen in the internal compared with the common carotid artery, 28 there are potential problems in assessing the IMT of the internal carotid artery because it cannot be measured precisely in a large proportion of patients and therefore may result in missing data. 29 In some investigators' experience, however, a more complex carotid IMT score involving both internal and common carotid observations may have better predictive value than either measure taken alone.…”