Relationship between carotid intima-media thickness, cytokines, atherosclerosis extent and a two-year cardiovascular risk in patients with arteriosclerosis.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), biomarkers, atherosclerosis extent and a two-year cardiovascular (CV) event risk in patients with arteriosclerosis.

Methods: The CIMT, levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and NT-proBNP were measured in 279 subjects with atherosclerotic disease, mean age 64.1 ± 9.