Natural History of Atherosclerosis and Abdominal Aortic Intima-Media Thickness: Rationale, Evidence, and Best Practice for Detection of Atherosclerosis in the Young

Overview

Journal J Clin Med

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2019 Aug 15

PMID 31408952

Citations 26

Authors

Michael R Skilton

David S Celermajer

Erich Cosmi

Fatima Crispi

Samuel S Gidding

Olli T Raitakari

Elaine M Urbina

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Atherosclerosis underlies most myocardial infarctions and ischemic strokes. The timing of onset and the rate of progression of atherosclerosis differ between individuals and among arterial sites. Physical manifestations of atherosclerosis may begin in early life, particularly in the abdominal aorta. Measurement of the abdominal aortic intima-media thickness by external ultrasound is a non-invasive methodology for quantifying the extent and severity of early atherosclerosis in children, adolescents, and young adults. This review provides an evidence-based rationale for the assessment of abdominal aortic intima-media thickness-particularly as an age-appropriate methodology for studying the natural history of atherosclerosis in the young in comparison to other methodologies-establishes best practice methods for assessing abdominal aortic intima-media thickness, and identifies key gaps in the literature, including those that will identify the clinical relevance of this measure.

Citing Articles

Evaluating Maternal Risk Factors Impacting Fetal Intima-Media Thickness of the Abdominal Aorta Measured at 28 Weeks of Gestation.

Belovan B, Popa Z, Ratiu A, Citu C, Citu I, Sas I J Clin Med. 2024; 13(21).

PMID: 39518658 PMC: 11545991. DOI: 10.3390/jcm13216519.

Acute effects of cigarette smoke on Endothelial Nitric Oxide synthase, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and aortic intima media thickness.

Ardiana M, Santoso A, Hermawan H, Nugraha R, Pikir B, Suryawan I F1000Res. 2023; 10:396.

PMID: 38046985 PMC: 10690037. DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.28375.4.

Assessment of Vascular Indices by Abdominal Aortic Ultrasonography in Preterm Neonates with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

Ghaderian M, Barekatain B, Sabri M, Hovsepian S, Ahmadi A, Dehghan B Pediatr Cardiol. 2023; 45(8):1816-1822.

PMID: 37690064 DOI: 10.1007/s00246-023-03295-7.

Vascular Effects, Potential Pathways and Mediators of Fetal Exposure to Alcohol and Cigarette Smoking during Pregnancy: A Narrative Review.

Hartel T, Oelofse A, De Smidt J Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(14).

PMID: 37510630 PMC: 10378932. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20146398.

Intrauterine exposure to preeclampsia does not impair vascular health in children.

Varley B, Henry A, Roberts L, Davis G, Skilton M, Craig M Front Public Health. 2023; 10:1071304.

PMID: 36620255 PMC: 9814159. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1071304.

References

Napoli C, Glass C, Witztum J, Deutsch R, DArmiento F, Palinski W . Influence of maternal hypercholesterolaemia during pregnancy on progression of early atherosclerotic lesions in childhood: Fate of Early Lesions in Children (FELIC) study. Lancet. 1999; 354(9186):1234-41. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(99)02131-5. View

Lamont D, Parker L, White M, Unwin N, Bennett S, Cohen M . Risk of cardiovascular disease measured by carotid intima-media thickness at age 49-51: lifecourse study. BMJ. 2000; 320(7230):273-8. PMC: 27272. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.320.7230.273. View

MCGILL Jr H, McMahan C, Herderick E, Tracy R, Malcom G, Zieske A . Effects of coronary heart disease risk factors on atherosclerosis of selected regions of the aorta and right coronary artery. PDAY Research Group. Pathobiological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2000; 20(3):836-45. DOI: 10.1161/01.atv.20.3.836. View

MCGILL Jr H, McMahan C, Herderick E, Malcom G, Tracy R, STRONG J . Origin of atherosclerosis in childhood and adolescence. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000; 72(5 Suppl):1307S-1315S. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/72.5.1307s. View

Jarvisalo M, Jartti L, Nanto-Salonen K, Irjala K, Ronnemaa T, Hartiala J . Increased aortic intima-media thickness: a marker of preclinical atherosclerosis in high-risk children. Circulation. 2001; 104(24):2943-7. DOI: 10.1161/hc4901.100522. View

Nakashima Y, Chen Y, Kinukawa N, Sueishi K . Distributions of diffuse intimal thickening in human arteries: preferential expression in atherosclerosis-prone arteries from an early age. Virchows Arch. 2002; 441(3):279-88. DOI: 10.1007/s00428-002-0605-1. View

Fukuchi M, Watanabe J, Kumagai K, Baba S, Shinozaki T, Miura M . Normal and oxidized low density lipoproteins accumulate deep in physiologically thickened intima of human coronary arteries. Lab Invest. 2002; 82(10):1437-47. DOI: 10.1097/01.lab.0000032546.01658.5d. View

Sorof J, Alexandrov A, Cardwell G, Portman R . Carotid artery intimal-medial thickness and left ventricular hypertrophy in children with elevated blood pressure. Pediatrics. 2003; 111(1):61-6. DOI: 10.1542/peds.111.1.61. View

Astrand H, Sandgren T, Ahlgren A, Lanne T . Noninvasive ultrasound measurements of aortic intima-media thickness: implications for in vivo study of aortic wall stress. J Vasc Surg. 2003; 37(6):1270-6. DOI: 10.1016/s0741-5214(02)75344-5. View

10.

Raitakari O, Juonala M, Kahonen M, Taittonen L, Laitinen T, Maki-Torkko N . Cardiovascular risk factors in childhood and carotid artery intima-media thickness in adulthood: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. JAMA. 2003; 290(17):2277-83. DOI: 10.1001/jama.290.17.2277. View

11.

Bots M, Evans G, Riley W, Grobbee D . Carotid intima-media thickness measurements in intervention studies: design options, progression rates, and sample size considerations: a point of view. Stroke. 2003; 34(12):2985-94. DOI: 10.1161/01.STR.0000102044.27905.B5. View

12.

Bae J, Bassenge E, Park K, Kim K, Schwemmer M . Significance of the intima-media thickness of the thoracic aorta in patients with coronary atherosclerosis. Clin Cardiol. 2003; 26(12):574-8. PMC: 6653978. DOI: 10.1002/clc.4960261206. View

13.

Wiegman A, de Groot E, Hutten B, Rodenburg J, Gort J, Bakker H . Arterial intima-media thickness in children heterozygous for familial hypercholesterolaemia. Lancet. 2004; 363(9406):369-70. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(04)15467-6. View

14.

Woo K, Chook P, Yu C, Sung R, Qiao M, Leung S . Overweight in children is associated with arterial endothelial dysfunction and intima-media thickening. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004; 28(7):852-7. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802539. View

15.

Berenson G, Wattigney W, Tracy R, Newman 3rd W, Srinivasan S, Webber L . Atherosclerosis of the aorta and coronary arteries and cardiovascular risk factors in persons aged 6 to 30 years and studied at necropsy (The Bogalusa Heart Study). Am J Cardiol. 1992; 70(9):851-8. DOI: 10.1016/0002-9149(92)90726-f. View

16.

Skilton M, Evans N, Griffiths K, Harmer J, Celermajer D . Aortic wall thickness in newborns with intrauterine growth restriction. Lancet. 2005; 365(9469):1484-6. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)66419-7. View

17.

McMahan C, Gidding S, Fayad Z, Zieske A, Malcom G, Tracy R . Risk scores predict atherosclerotic lesions in young people. Arch Intern Med. 2005; 165(8):883-90. DOI: 10.1001/archinte.165.8.883. View

18.

Meyer A, Kundt G, Steiner M, Schuff-Werner P, Kienast W . Impaired flow-mediated vasodilation, carotid artery intima-media thickening, and elevated endothelial plasma markers in obese children: the impact of cardiovascular risk factors. Pediatrics. 2006; 117(5):1560-7. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2005-2140. View

19.

Lande M, Carson N, Roy J, Meagher C . Effects of childhood primary hypertension on carotid intima media thickness: a matched controlled study. Hypertension. 2006; 48(1):40-4. DOI: 10.1161/01.HYP.0000227029.10536.e8. View

20.

Koklu E, Akcakus M, Kurtoglu S, Koklu S, Yikilmaz A, Coskun A . Aortic intima-media thickness and lipid profile in macrosomic newborns. Eur J Pediatr. 2006; 166(4):333-8. DOI: 10.1007/s00431-006-0243-8. View