Significant measurement of mean carotid intima-media thickness in sustained essential hypertension

OBJECTIVE: To assess the significant association of atherosclerosis quantified by screening intima media thickness of bilateral common and internal carotid arteries in patients with asymptomatic and persistent hypertension with and without ischemic stroke.

METHODS: Subjects in this investigation were recruited from the vascular Doppler unit at Baghdad Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq during 2005. A total number of 119 (61 females and 58 males), with ages ranging from 40-70 years, were able to comply with the observational comparative study protocol. They are grouped into healthy normotensive (I), asymptomatic (preclinical) hypertension (II), sustained hypertension without (III) and with ischemic stroke (IV). Anthropometric measurements, lipids and lipoproteins biochemical tests, and B-mode image of high-resolution ultrasound scanning of common and internal carotid arteries were carried out.

RESULTS: The mean diameter as well as intima media thickness of common and internal carotid arteries was significantly higher in group IV than group II,II, and group I. These changes were associated with significant increased fasting serum cholesterol, lowdensity lipoprotein, and decreased high-density lipoprotein. Intima media thickness above one mm was significantly observed in hypertension with ischemic stroke (odd ratio 1.37).

CONCLUSION: The results support the importance of screening asymptomatic as well as sustained treated hypertension by carotid ultrasound Doppler.