BACKGROUND: Ultrasound-determined carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is widely used as an indicator of generalized atherosclerotic burden, but there are limited autopsy findings in support of the association, directly. METHODS: We performed an autopsy analysis (n = 111, mean 68.8 years; 65.0% men; 86% non-cardiovascular disease death) to examine the associations of microscopy-determined carotid IMT including plaque thickness with the severity of atherosclerosis in the generalized arteries. RESULTS: Microscopy-determined carotid IMT was associated with the extent of intima/media layer ratio of the vasculature, a marker of atherosclerosis, in each structure examined, i.e., coronary artery, cerebrovasculature, thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta, and iliac artery (R = 0.31-0.42; all P < 0.01). The prevalence of a necrotic core in the coronary artery, cerebrovasculature, thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta, and iliac artery increased in accordance with increasing microscopy-determined carotid IMT (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our autopsy analysis confirms the validity of carotid IMT including plaque thickness as an indicator of generalized atherosclerosis.
BACKGROUND: Ultrasound-determined carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is widely used as an indicator of generalized atherosclerotic burden, but there are limited autopsy findings in support of the association, directly. METHODS: We performed an autopsy analysis (n = 111, mean 68.8 years; 65.0% men; 86% non-cardiovascular disease death) to examine the associations of microscopy-determined carotid IMT including plaque thickness with the severity of atherosclerosis in the generalized arteries. RESULTS: Microscopy-determined carotid IMT was associated with the extent of intima/media layer ratio of the vasculature, a marker of atherosclerosis, in each structure examined, i.e., coronary artery, cerebrovasculature, thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta, and iliac artery (R = 0.31-0.42; all P < 0.01). The prevalence of a necrotic core in the coronary artery, cerebrovasculature, thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta, and iliac artery increased in accordance with increasing microscopy-determined carotid IMT (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our autopsy analysis confirms the validity of carotid IMT including plaque thickness as an indicator of generalized atherosclerosis.
Authors: Tatjana Josefs; Kristiaan Wouters; Uwe J F Tietge; Wijtske Annema; Robin P F Dullaart; Tomas Vaisar; Ilja C W Arts; Carla J H van der Kallen; Coen D A Stehouwer; Casper G Schalkwijk; Ira J Goldberg; Edward A Fisher; Marleen M J van Greevenbroek Journal: J Clin Lipidol Date: 2019-10-31 Impact factor: 4.766