Review article

The role of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) Measurement and Echo-tracking in the Assessment of Preclinical Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis in HIV-infected Patients

Klaudija Višković ; Klinika za infektivne bolesti "Dr. Fran Mihaljević", Zagreb, Hrvatska
Ivan Krolo ; Zavod za dijagnostičku i intervencijsku radiologiju Kliničke bolnice "Sr.milosrdnice", Zagreb, Hrvatska
Zoran Brnić ; Zavod za dijagnostičku i intervencijsku radiologiju Kliničke bolnice "Merkur", Zagreb, Hrvatska
Dijana Podoreški ; Zavod za dijagnostičku i intervencijsku radiologiju Kliničke bolnice "Sr.milosrdnice", Zagreb, Hrvatska
Lorna Stermberger ; Klinika za infektivne bolesti "Dr. Fran Mihaljević", Zagreb, Hrvatska
Josip Begovac ; Klinika za infektivne bolesti "Dr. Fran Mihaljević", Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

Cardiovascular (CV) disease has progressively emerged as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among HIV-infected patients treated with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). This has been variably attributed to cART toxicity, immunodeficiency and/or HIV-associated inflammation. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurement by B-mod ultrasound is an important tool for evaluation of early stages of atherosclerosis. Subclinical atherosclerosis of carotid arteries can also be detected by measuring the number and area of present plaques and arterial stiffness assessment. Beta stiffness index is one of the most commonly used clinical markers of atherosclerosis. Echo-tracking is a new ultrasound technology that uses a radio frequency signal to provide high accuracy of 0.01 mm resolution at 10 MHz transmision/reception. Echo-tracking is a non-time consuming tool for diagnostic routine evaluation of arterial stiffness parameters. From July 2009, in collaboration with the HIV/AIDS Center, we started with a continuous CIMT and plaque area measurements in HIV-infected patients at the Department of Radiology and Ultrasound of the University Hospital for Infectious Diseases „Dr. Fran Mihaljević“ in Zagreb. We also used the echo-tracking to examine a group of HIV-infected patients who are at high-risk for CV diseases. In our prospective research we shall try to assess surrogate markers for atherosclerosis that can efficiently identify and describe HIV-infected population at high risk for CV disease development and investigate therapeutic regimens.

Keywords

HIV; vascular ultrasound diagnostics; carotid intima-media thickness beta stiffness index

Hrčak ID:

59792

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/59792

Publication date:

31.3.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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