Hypertensive Patients With Vascular Function And Structure

Background and Purpose: The intima-media thickness (IMT) of common carotid artery (CCA) has been correlated with atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. This study was designed to investigate the relations between hypertension and other factors with IMT of CCA for patients (pts) with hypertension.Methods and Results: Carotid ultrasound examination was performed to compare the IMT and atherosclerotic plaques in 54 pts with hypertension to those in 18 controls. Fifty-four pts with hypertension were divided into two groups. Group B was with and Group A without complications such as coronary heart disease and stroke. The IMT for controls, Group A, and Group B was 0.45 ±0.19mm, 0.67 ±0.20mm and 0.94± 0.28mm, respectively, p<0.01). The scores of atherosclerosis for pts with hypertension were more than that for controls ( x 2=21.78, p<0.001). The scores of atherosclerosis (r=0.62, p<0.001) and numbers of plaques (r=0.51, p<0.001) are significantly related to IMT. Upon multivariate analyses the IMT of CCA were significantly related to age and duration of hypertension (r=0.617, F=12.32, p<0.001).Conclusions: Hypertension might impair intima of the artery and this process could be promoted with duration of hypertension. Carotid ultrasound examination could be used to evaluate atherosclerosis and impairment of artery. The IMT of CCA was correlated to age of the pts significantly.