Carotid artery distensibility: a reliability study.

Objective: Carotid distensibility (CD) is a measure of carotid artery elasticity that has been introduced as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Information regarding reproducibility of sonographic CD measures is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the inter-reader reliability of sonographic measurements of common carotid artery (CCA) diameters and derived metrics of CD.

Presence of calcified carotid plaque predicts vascular events: the Northern Manhattan Study.

Objective: The prognostic implications of carotid plaque calcification (CPC) relative to subsequent vascular events are unclear. Our aim was to determine the association between CPC and risk of vascular events in a prospective multi-ethnic cohort.

Methods: CPC was assessed among 1118 stroke-free subjects (mean age 68+/-8 years; 59% women; 59% Hispanic, 22% black, 19% white) from the Northern Manhattan Study using high-resolution B-mode ultrasound.

Carotid plaque surface irregularity predicts ischemic stroke: the northern Manhattan study.

Background And Purpose: There is scant population-based evidence regarding extracranial carotid plaque surface irregularity and ischemic stroke. Using a prospective cohort design, we evaluated the association of carotid plaque surface irregularity and the risk of ischemic stroke in a multiethnic population.

Methods: High-resolution B-mode ultrasound of the carotid arteries was performed in 1939 stroke-free subjects (mean age 69+/-10.

Endothelial dysfunction is associated with carotid plaque: a cross-sectional study from the population based Northern Manhattan Study.

Background: Impaired vascular function occurs early in atherogenesis. Brachial flow mediated dilatation (FMD) is a non-invasive measure of vascular function and may be an important marker of preclinical atherosclerosis. Data on the association between FMD and carotid plaque in multi-ethnic populations are limited.

Interleukin-2 levels are associated with carotid artery intima-media thickness.

Objective: To show that serum interleukin levels are associated with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT).

Background: Inflammation is hypothesized to play a central role in atherogenesis, and serum markers of inflammation are predictive of cardiovascular disease. Interleukin-2, a pro-inflammatory cytokine produced largely by naive CD4 T cells and Th1 (pro-inflammatory) T cells, has been found in a high proportion of carotid plaques.