Do we need individual measurement of carotid intima and media thickness?

Kim, Kee Sik

Abstract

Early detection of risk factors related with atherosclerosis, is necessary to decrease the morbidity and mortality of cardiovasular disease(CVD). Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is regarded as a surrogate markers of cardiovascular risk, believed to detect high risk better than traditional risk factors alone have been proposed. There were numerous studies which were evaluated the correlation with carotid IMT and cardiovascular events. In addition, measure of carotid IMT is safe, noninvasive, and relatively inexpensive method to detect early changes of atherosclerosis. Recently, the method which could measure carotid intima and media thickness seperatly, was developed . In this issue, Won et al, reported that in hypertensive patients, media thickness was greater than that of normotensive patients. however, intima thickness was not different in between two groups. They concluded medial hypertrophy contribute to increase IMT in hypertensive patients. However, there are technical limitation related with the characteristics of ultrasound., individual measurement of intima and media is very promising method to evaluate the disease progression earlier than the other methods. Thus this method can be applied to identify and track the progression of atherosclerotic disease.