Original scientific paper
Ultrasonographic analysis of the influence of aging process on the width of the common carotid artery lumen in women from our population
Nikola Barić
; Private family medicine/general practice clinics Labin, Labin, Croatia
Eris Materljan
; Department of family medicine, School of medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Sanja Barić-Santro
; Istrian health centre dr. Peršić, Labin, Croatia
Abstract
Aim: During aging, along with other changes in the vascular system, the width of the arterial lumen of the common carotid artery enlarges. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between the common carotid artery internal diameter (CCA-ID) and age in conditionally healthy women. The possibly accelerated rate of this value increase indicates particular alterations and can serve as a valuable guideline for stronger atheroprotection.
Subjects and methods: 97 conditionally healthy female ages 17-92 were included in the study. The investigation was performed by the ultrasound color duplex Doppler device SA 6000C (KRETZTECHNIK A.G.), with the 7,5 MHz linear transducer. The longitudinal B-mode image of the arterial lumen was used for the measurement and analysis of the CCA-ID. The measurement was performed between appropriate opposite wall points ,1.0-1,5 cm proximal to the bulb start point.
Results: The correlation between the ID width and age was obtained by the univariate linear regression analysis of the results (CCA-ID right=0,00963*age + 5,5597; CCA-ID left=0,00998*age + 5,5083; results are present in mm). The statistically confirmed significance of this relation was determined by the correlation coefficient r (CCA right: r = 0,26275; CCA left: r = 0,27167) and p value (CCA right: p = 0,00963, <0,01; CCA left: p = 0,00997, <0,01). Right ID mean value is 6,074 ± 0,608 mm, and left 6,041 ± 0,609 mm.
Discussion and conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the width of the arterial lumen of the common carotid artery increases with age in the group of conditionally healthy women. The values of CCA-ID/age are a valuable predictor of the process of aging of the common carotid artery.
Keywords
aging process; atheroprotection; common carotid artery; internal diameter width
Hrčak ID:
31397
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2008.
Visits: 3.196 *