BACKGROUND In a Caucasian population, the prevalence and incidence of hypertension, renal function and large artery stiffness were significantly correlated with polymorphisms in the genes encoding the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE I/D), aldosterone synthase (-C344T) and the cytoskeleton protein alpha-adducin (Gly460Trp). OBJECTIVE This study investigated intima-media thickening, a precur...

BACKGROUND Preeclampsia (PE) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. Ultrasound assessment of the common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) during or after PE has not indicated any increased cardiovascular risk. METHODS AND RESULTS We used high-frequency ultrasound (22 MHz) to estimate the individual common carotid artery IMTs in 55 women at PE diag...

Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus occurs during pregnancy is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) is a surrogate maker of subclinical atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is assessment of relationship between CIMT and infra-renal abdominal aorta diameter in women with and without Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Materials and Methods: Th...

OBJECTIVE To investigate prospectively whether subclinical vascular disease is associated with future depressive symptoms in the elderly. APPROACH AND RESULTS A multicenter cohort of community-dwelling individuals aged 65 to 85 years was examined for carotid plaque presence and common carotid artery intima-media thickness at baseline and followed up after 2, 4, 7, and 10 years. At baseline an...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the Framingham Cardiovascular Risk Profile and carotid artery intima-media thickness are associated with cortical volume and thickness. METHODS Consecutive subjects participating in a prospective cohort study of aging and mild cognitive impairment enriched for vascular risk factors for atherosclerosis underwent struct...

BACKGROUND Shear stress gradients and inflammation have been causally associated with atherosclerosis development in carotid bifurcation regions. The mechanism underlying higher levels of carotid intima-media thickness observed among HIV-infected individuals remains unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS We measured carotid intima-media thickness progression and development of plaque in the common caro...

Established rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with a doubled cardiovascular risk. However, data about the cardiovascular risk in early RA are scarce. Preclinical atherosclerosis can be reliably assessed with the carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), and the cIMT is a well-validated predictor of cardiovascular events. The cIMT was therefore used in a recent controlled, prospective study i...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Hypertension promotes carotid intima-media thickening. We reviewed the randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effects of an antihypertensive drug versus placebo or another antihypertensive agent of a different class on carotid intima-media thickness. METHODS We searched the PubMed and the Web of Science databases for randomized clinical trials, published in Eng...