颈动脉粥样硬化对冠状动脉病变的预测分析

目的探讨颈动脉粥样硬化对冠状动脉病变的预测价值.方法对191例确诊为冠心病的患者及175例正常对照者行颈动脉超声检查,依冠状动脉造影结果分为对照组与冠心病单支病变组、双支病变组及多支病变组,比较各组间颈动脉内膜-中膜厚度及粥样硬化程度;并根据颈动脉粥样硬化的程度预测冠心病的发生、发展情况.结果对照组与冠心病各组在左侧内膜-中膜厚度、斑块发生率和狭窄率上存在差并(P＜0.05),而且冠状动脉病变支数越多颈动脉粥样硬化的程度也越重.以颈动脉斑块分级计分大于1、2和3分为标准预测冠心病的阳性预测值分别是68.5%、73.2%和74.6%.结论以上提示颈动脉粥样硬化是冠状动脉粥样硬化有价值的预测因素,通过颈动脉粥样硬化程度可预测冠状动脉病变的存在及其严重程度.     

颈动脉内膜-中膜厚度与冠状动脉硬化的关系

目的 探讨颈动脉内膜-中膜厚度与冠状动脉粥样硬化的关系.方法 对186例因冠心病及可疑冠心病而入院接受冠状动脉造影的病人,根据冠状动脉造影结果分为冠状动脉正常组和冠状动脉病变组,后者根据冠脉病变数目分为三组:单支病变组、双支病变组、三支病变组.采用高频超声探测双侧颈总动脉、颈内动脉及颈外动脉,测量血管壁内中膜厚度(IMT).结果 冠状动脉病变组的IMT值明显高于冠状动脉正常组(p＜0.05);冠状动脉病变组的斑块检出率与冠脉正常组比较有显著差异性(P＜0.05);双支病变和三支病变的检出率比单支病变高,三支病变的检出率比双支病变高.颈动脉斑块超声检查对冠心病有良好的预测价值,总的预测符合率为85.48％.结论 通过对颈动脉的超声检测,可以早期发现冠状动脉病变,并可初步预测冠状动脉病变的程度.     

合并糖尿病的冠心病患者冠状动脉粥样硬化与颈动脉粥样硬化的关系

目的探讨合并糖尿病的冠心病患者颈动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉粥样硬化的关系.方法通过对73例合并2型糖尿病的冠心病患者行冠状动脉造影明确冠状动脉病变,同时行颈动脉超声检查,检测颈动脉内膜-中膜厚度.结果不同支数冠状动脉病变者之间比较,颈动脉内膜-中膜厚度、颈动脉斑块积分和斑块发生率差异有显著性(分别为P＜0.001、P＜0.005、P＜0.01).冠状动脉病变支数与颈动脉内膜-中膜厚度和颈动脉斑块积分有明显的相关性,其相关系数分别为0.71和0.68(P＜0.001).冠状动脉造影积分与颈动脉内膜-中膜厚度及颈动脉斑块积分相关系数分别为0.69和0.66(P＜0.001).结论合并糖尿病冠心病患者颈动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉粥样硬化存在显著的正相相关性,这类患者通过了解颈动脉病变可间接反映冠状动脉粥样硬化病变.     

颈动脉粥样硬化和肱动脉内皮功能与冠状动脉病变的关系

目的 探讨颈动脉不同部位内膜中膜厚度及斑块积分,反应性充血后肱动脉血管内径变化与冠状动脉粥样硬化程度的关系,从而为临床筛查冠状动脉粥样硬化积累新的临床资料与经验.方法 入选对象31例,依冠状动脉积分分为高、中、低三组,对每组对象行超声检测颈动脉不同部位内膜中膜厚度和肱动脉血流介导的血管舒张功能.结果 颈动脉各部位内膜中膜厚度与冠状动脉粥样硬化病变程度呈正相关,且分叉处的内膜中膜厚度与冠心病有更强的相关性(r=0.679,P<0.01);颈动脉粥样斑块积分与冠状动脉粥样硬化病变程度呈正相关,颈动脉分叉处最易形成斑块(P<0.05);肱动脉血管内皮舒张功能与冠状动脉粥样硬化病变程度呈负相关(r=-0.646,P<0.01).硝酸甘油诱导的非内皮依赖性血管舒张功能在三组间虽呈现逐渐减弱的趋势,但未达到统计学差异(P>0.05).结论 颈动脉内膜中膜厚度及肱动脉血流介导的血管舒张功能测定可较好地反映冠状动脉硬化程度.     

颈动脉粥样硬化与冠心病的关系

目的 探讨颈动脉粥样硬化与冠心病的关系.方法 因心绞痛、心肌梗死及胸痛待查而入院的病人60例,行冠状动脉造影检查,并与造影前后1周内对上述病人行颈动脉血管彩色多普勒超声检查,根据造影结果分为冠心病单支病变组、多支病变组和正常组（对照组）,比较各组间所测得的颈动脉后壁内中膜厚度（intima-media thickness,IMT）及斑块发生率.结果 随着冠状动脉病变严重程度的增加,IMT和斑块发生率随之增高.结论 颈动脉粥样硬化与冠心病关系密切,颈动脉超声的检查可用于预测冠状动脉的病变程度.     

早发冠心病患者颈动脉内膜中膜厚度特点及其预测价值

探讨早发冠心病患者颈动脉内膜中膜厚度和斑块特征及其对早发冠心病的预测价值。应用B型超声检测早发冠心病患者颈动脉内膜中膜厚度和斑块情况 ,结合冠状动脉造影结果进行对比研究。结果发现 ,早发冠心病患者颈动脉内膜中膜厚度≥ 0 .8mm及斑块检出率明显高于对照组 (5 6 %比 11% ,P <0 .0 5 ) ;颈动脉超声阳性对预测早发冠心病的敏感性为 5 5 .7% ,特异性为 88.9% ,准确性为 87.2 % ;3支冠状动脉病变组平均内膜中膜厚度高于 1支冠状动脉病变组。多因素分析发现 ,颈动脉超声阳性是早发冠心病的独立危险因素 (OR =7.19,95 %CI:1.92～ 2 1.37,P =0 .0 0 7)。结果提示 ,早发冠心病患者颈动脉内膜中膜厚度增厚及斑块检出率升高 ,颈动脉超声阳性对诊断早发冠心病有着较高的特异性和准确性。     

颈动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉狭窄的相关性分析

目的 探讨粥样硬化颈动脉内膜-中膜厚度（IMT）对冠心病的预测价值.方法 应用彩色多普勒超声仪测量颈动脉的血流动力学参数,冠状动脉造影检查,并进行颈动脉和冠状动脉狭窄程度相关性分析.结果 右颈总动脉IMT与冠状动脉的左主干狭窄密切相关,而与右冠状动脉狭窄负相关.冠状动脉的左回旋支狭窄与左颈总动脉IMT明显正相关,与左颈总动脉的收缩期峰值血流速度呈负相关.结论 颈动脉IMT不但与冠状动脉病变支数有关,而且与冠状动脉的病变部位密切相关.因此,颈动脉超声检查IMT有助于冠状动脉造影术前的选择和判断.     

颈、股动脉粥样硬化超声标识与冠心病的关系研究

目的:利用高频超声研究颈、股动脉粥样硬化超声标识与冠状动脉粥样硬化的关系。方法:对91例冠状动脉造影受检者术前行双侧颈、股动脉超声检查,测定血管后壁内膜中层厚度(IMT)和斑块厚度,记录斑块数目,半定量估计斑块的严重程度。根据冠状动脉造影结果分为正常组和冠心病组。冠心病组分别按血管狭窄≥50%所累及主要病变血管支数分:单支病变、双支病变、3支病变,其中左主干累及定为双支病变。结果:随着冠状动脉病变程度的增加,颈、股动脉IMT值均增加,冠心病组与正常组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);颈、股动脉斑块分级与冠状动脉病变血管支数分级间显著相关(P<0.05);股动脉斑块对冠心病预测的准确度(69.23%)高于颈动脉斑块(56.04%)。结论:颈、股动脉粥样硬化超声标识似用以预测冠心病的严重程度。     

锡伯族和汉族冠心病患者颈动脉粥样硬化及冠状动脉病变对比分析

目的 对比分析锡伯族、汉族冠心病患者颈动脉粥样硬化及冠状动脉病变情况.方法 对经冠状动脉造影明确的48例锡伯族、57例汉族冠心病患者和50例正常对照者均行颈动脉超声检查,比较各组间颈动脉内膜中膜厚度、斑块的发生率及冠状动脉病变的Gensini积分.结果 锡伯族、汉族冠心病患者内膜中膜厚度及颈动脉斑块的发生率均高于正常对照者(1.1±0.3 mm和1.0±0.1 mm比0.6±0.2 mm、88.3%和77.2%比38.0%,P<0.05),但锡伯族与汉族间比较没有统计学差异(P>0.05);锡伯族患者冠状动脉病变支数少于汉族(1.82±0.24比2.54±0.31, P<0.05),冠状动脉病变的Gensini积分也明显低于汉族(8.23±1.35比15.84±2.68,P<0.05),且冠状动脉病变支数越多,锡伯族、汉族冠心病患者颈动脉粥样硬化程度越重.结论 锡伯族和汉族冠心病患者颈动脉粥样硬化情况均重于正常对照者,但锡伯族和汉族间比较没有统计学意义;锡伯族和汉族冠心病患者冠状动脉病变存在差异,且锡伯族冠心病患者冠状动脉病变严重程度低于汉族;通过颈动脉内膜中膜厚度的程度可预测冠状动脉病变的存在及严重程度.     

颈动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉粥样硬化之间的关系

目的 探讨颈动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉粥样硬化之间的关系及无创性颈动脉超声检查在筛选冠心病高危人群中的价值.方法 将101例接受冠脉造影的患者,同时行颈动脉超声检查和血脂检测.根据冠脉造影结果分为冠心病组和对照组,分别检测双侧颈总动脉内-中膜厚度及斑块的形成情况,并与冠状动脉造影结果进行对比研究.结果 ①冠心病组甘油三酯明显高于对照组[(2.26±1.55)Vs(1.73±0.94) mmol/L,P＜0.05],而高密度脂蛋白明显降低[(1.65±0.54)vs(1.94±0.46) mmoL/L,P ＜0.05].②与对照组比较,冠心病组患者颈动脉内膜增厚率(71.1％)和斑块形成率(43.4％)增高,两组之间比较有统计学差异(P＜0.05).结论 甘油三酯增高及高密度脂蛋白降低为动脉粥样硬化的危险因素.冠状动脉粥样硬化病变程度和颈动脉粥样硬化病变程度密切相关.利用颈动脉超声检查可对冠心病的高危人群进行筛选,并且该无创技术与冠心病的危险因素相结合可提高对冠心病的预诊能力.     

Relationship between carotid artery intima-media thickness and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation in middle-aged healthy men

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in healthy middle-age men. BACKGROUND: Carotid IMT and brachial artery FMD are frequently used as surrogate measures of subclinical atherosclerosis. Whereas carotid IMT identifies early structural abnormalities, brachial artery FMD, considered a bioassay of endothelial function, measures functional vascular integrity. The relationship between carotid IMT and brachial artery FMD has not been well studied. METHODS: We measured traditional risk factors, carotid IMT, and brachial artery FMD in 1,578 middle-aged men without known cardiovascular disease and analyzed the relationship between carotid IMT and brachial FMD. RESULTS: Carotid IMT correlated with age, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, fasting glucose, total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and with the overall Framingham risk score (p < 0.001 for all), whereas impaired brachial artery FMD correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.01). No relationship was observed between carotid IMT and brachial artery FMD for the entire cohort (r = -0.006, p = 0.82) and in subgroups defined by traditional risk factors or by quintiles of carotid IMT and brachial FMD. CONCLUSIONS: In middle-aged healthy men, there is no significant correlation between carotid IMT and brachial artery FMD. This finding suggests that these are unique, independent surrogates that measure different aspects and stages of early atherosclerosis. Further studies are needed to define their role in clinical research and in cardiovascular risk assessment.     

辛伐他汀对代谢综合征患者颈动脉结构和功能的影响

目的:通过超声检测颈动脉的结构和功能,观察辛伐他汀对代谢综合征患者颈动脉结构和功能的作用.方法:选择85例代谢综合征患者,检测体质指数(BMI)、腰围、血脂、空腹血糖、血浆超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)和颈动脉超声测量颈动脉内膜-中层厚度(IMT),计算斑块指数、颈动脉顺应性、颈动脉扩张性及颈动脉僵硬度.比较辛伐他汀治疗4周、24周及48周后各指标及颈动脉超声参数的改变.结果:治疗4周后,代谢综合征患者血浆LDL-C、hs-CRP水平下降;颈动脉顺应性、颈动脉扩张性及颈动脉僵硬度已有明显改善,但颈总动脉IMT、斑块指数无明显变化.治疗24周后,颈动脉顺应性、颈动脉扩张性及颈动脉僵硬度进一步改善;血浆LDL-C、hs-CRP水平进一步下降;颈总动脉IMT、斑块指数有明显改善.治疗48周后,血浆LDL-C、hs-CRP水平与治疗24周相比,无进一步下降,但颈总动脉IMT、斑块指数仍能进一步改善.结论:代谢综合征患者使用辛伐他汀短期能有效改善颈动脉的功能,长期治疗有消退颈动脉斑块的作用,其作用机制可能与其抗炎作用有关.     

Insulin, insulin propeptides and intima-media thickness in the carotid artery in 58-year-old clinically healthy men. The Atherosclerosis and Insulin Resistance study (AIR).

AIMS: To examine the relationship between specific (intact) insulin, insulin propeptides and subclinical atherosclerosis. METHODS: A cross-sectional study based on a stratified sampling of randomly selected, clinically healthy 58-year-old men (n = 391). Ultrasound examinations of the carotid arteries were performed with measurement of intima-media thickness (IMT) in the common carotid artery and in the carotid artery bulb. Fasting, cross-reacting plasma insulin (RIA), specific (intact) insulin, proinsulin, 32,33 split proinsulin and C-peptide were measured. RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of cross-reacting plasma insulin, specific insulin, proinsulin, 32,33 split proinsulin and C-peptide were univariately associated with common carotid artery IMT. Established risk factors such as blood pressure, smoking, apoB, triglycerides, body mass index (BMI), and waist--hip ratio were also related to IMT. After adjustment for smoking, apoB, blood pressure and triglycerides, cross-reacting plasma insulin, proinsulin and C-peptide but not specific insulin and split 32,33 proinsulin remained associated with carotid artery IMT. No associations remained after adjustment for BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Fasting plasma proinsulin, C-peptide, and insulin by cross-reacting RIA was associated with common carotid artery IMT independent of several conventional risk factors for atherosclerosis. The multicollinearity between the insulin peptides and propeptides makes it difficult to clarify the exact role of each peptide.     

老年2型糖尿病患者颈动脉粥样硬化与血清25-羟维生素D_3水平的关系

目的探讨血清25-羟维生素D3[25(OH)D3]与老年2型糖尿病患者颈动脉粥样硬化发生、发展的相关性。方法选择2型糖尿病患者174例,根据颈动脉内膜中层厚度(IMT)水平分为IMT正常组84例,IMT增厚组90例;又根据颈动脉有无狭窄分为颈动脉无狭窄组141例,颈动脉狭窄组33例。测量血压、身高、体重,计算体质量指数(BMI),并检测空腹血糖、血脂、糖化血红蛋白等指标,采用酶联免疫分析法测定血清25(OH)D3水平。超声检测及计算IMT及狭窄情况。结果 IMT增厚组血清25(OH)D3水平明显低于IMT正常组(P<0.05);颈动脉狭窄组血清25(OH)D3水平明显低于颈动脉无狭窄组,空腹血糖、尿酸水平明显高于颈动脉无狭窄组(P<0.05)。相关分析显示,颈动脉IMT最大值与老年2型糖尿病患者25(OH)D3呈负相关(P<0.05),与尿酸呈正相关(P<0.01)。logistic回归分析显示,颈动脉狭窄与25(OH)D3、尿酸独立相关。结论在老年2型糖尿病患者中,低水平血清25(OH)D3可能是颈动脉粥样硬化的独立危险因素。     

颈动脉内膜中层厚度对糖尿病足溃疡创面的影响

目的探讨颈动脉内膜中层厚度(IMT)对糖尿病足溃疡创面的影响。方法选取糖尿病足患者181例,未合并糖尿病足2型糖尿病患者62例(非糖尿病足组)为研究对象,测定IMT值,糖尿病足溃疡患者按IMT值分三组:颈动脉内膜厚度正常组(IMT<0.9 mm),颈动脉内膜增厚组(IMT≥0.9 mm)及颈动脉斑块组,回顾性分析患者空腹血糖(FBG)、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)、血压、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、肌酐(Cr)、踝肱指数(ABI)、糖尿病足Wagner分级等资料。结果颈动脉内膜厚度正常组、颈动脉内膜增厚组、颈动脉斑块组糖尿病足Wagner分级依次升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);随着IMT升高,患者的FBG、HbA1c、LDL-C、Cr、ABI、血压等水平均逐渐增高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05或P<0.01);相关性分析显示IMT值与FBG、HbA1c、LDL-C、Cr、ABI、收缩压呈正相关(r分别为0.183、0.149、0.304、0.421、0.840、0.161,P均<0.05);多元回归分析显示HbA1c、收缩压、ABI为血管内膜增厚的危险因素。结论颈动脉IMT值与糖尿病足创面严重程度密切相关,IMT值越高,糖尿病足创面情况越严重,IMT值可能可作为糖尿病足创面严重程度及预后的判断指标之一。     

Association of high resting end tidal CO2 with carotid artery thickness in women, but not men

BACKGROUND: A previous study found high resting end tidal CO2 (PetCO2) to be an independent determinant of systolic blood pressure in women, but not men. The present study investigates the association of PetCO2 with the common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and wall-to-lumen (W/L) ratio in a sample of normotensive men and women. DESIGN AND METHODS: Resting PetCO2 of 188 healthy volunteers, including 88 men and 100 women, in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging was monitored continuously for 25 min via a respiratory gas monitor. At another session, carotid artery IMT was determined via high-resolution B-mode carotid ultrasonography. The ratio of IMT to carotid artery diameter was calculated as W/L ratio. Resting blood pressure was determined oscillometrically every 5 min for 20 min during each session. RESULTS: Univariate associations of PetCO2 with systolic blood pressure (SBP) (P< 001), IMT (P< 001) and W/L ratio (P< 001) were significant in women, but not men. Multiple regression analyses showed that high resting PetCO2 was a predictor of SBP (P < 01), IMT (P< 01) and W/L ratio (P< 01) in women, independent of age, body mass index and SBP. For men, age (P < 001) and SBP (P < 01) were independent predictors of carotid IMT, while age (P< 001) was the only independent predictor of W/L ratio in men. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that PetCO2 can play a role in cardiovascular structure, as well as function, in women, and that the relationship is independent of the association of PetCO2 with blood pressure.     

代谢综合征对原发性高血压患者颈动脉结构和功能的影响

目的观察代谢综合征(MS)对原发性高血压(EH)患者颈动脉结构和功能的影响。方法将156例EH患者根据是否合并MS,分为EH+MS组(61例)和EH+非MS组(95例),同期选择31例健康体检者为对照组(NC组),超声测定颈动脉内径、颈动脉内膜中层厚度(IMT)、舒张末期血流速度及僵硬度等。结果EH+MS组颈动脉内径及IMT明显高于EH+非MS组和NC组(P<0.05),舒张末期血流速度明显低于后2组(P<0.05)。颈动脉僵硬度高低排序为EH+MS组>EH+非MS组>NC组。IMT、平均流速-时间积分与年龄、收缩压、体重指数的相关性较强。结论MS促进EH患者动脉硬化的发展。     

Atherosclerotic changes of extracoronary arteries are associated with the extent of coronary atherosclerosis

The aim of the present study was to examine the association between carotid and femoral artery intima media thickness (IMT) and the extent and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as the effects of traditional vascular risk factors on the atherosclerotic changes in the carotid and femoral arteries. Two hundred twenty-four patients who underwent coronary angiography for suspected CAD were evaluated by B-mode ultrasound imaging of the common carotid, internal carotid, carotid bifurcation, and femoral artery for measurement of IMT; traditional vascular risk factors were also evaluated in these patients. CAD extent was evaluated by the number of diseased vessels and by Gensini score. Age, male gender, and diabetes were common risk factors for higher CAD extent and higher carotid and femoral IMT. Insulin levels were correlated with femoral IMT and CAD extent, whereas blood lipids were correlated predominantly with carotid IMT. IMT from carotid and femoral arteries increased significantly with an increase in CAD extent. Using multiple stepwise regression analysis, the following parameters were found to be independent predictors of CAD extent: male gender (p<0.0001), common femoral artery IMT (p = 0.0028), common carotid artery IMT (p = 0.015), age (p = 0.02), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.035), and carotid artery bulb IMT (p = 0.04). Common femoral IMT was the only independent parameter for predicting Gensini score (p<0.0001). In conclusion, there are territorial differences in the various arterial beds regarding their response to risk factors. Femoral artery and carotid bulb are independent predictors of CAD extent and the inclusion of these measurements would add information to that provided by the common carotid artery.     

Leukocyte count and fibrinogen are associated with carotid and femoral intima-media thickness in a risk population for diabetes

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of the inflammatory parameters--leukocyte count and fibrinogen level--to the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery and the common femoral artery, as well as to a variety of risk factors within the metabolic syndrome in a risk population for diabetes. METHODS: A total of 597 subjects were analyzed from the Risk factors in Impaired glucose tolerance for Atherosclerosis and Diabetes (RIAD) study, who were at risk for the development of type 2 diabetes. IMT of the common carotid and common femoral artery was determined by B-mode ultrasound. Leukocyte count and fibrinogen level, as well as various risk factors for atherosclerosis, were measured by established methods. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, leukocyte count and fibrinogen level correlated significantly to carotid and femoral IMT. Leukocyte count was significantly correlated to body mass index, waist to hip ratio, blood pressure, plasma triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (inversely), fasting and postprandial plasma glucose, insulin and proinsulin, PAI(active), tPA and microalbuminuria, as well as to smoking and physical activity (inversely). Fibrinogen level was significantly correlated with body mass index, systolic blood pressure, plasma triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, PAI(active), tPA and von Willebrandt factor, as well as with smoking and low physical activity. In multivariate analysis, leukocyte count was an independent determinant of the maximal carotid IMT and fibrinogen level of femoral IMT. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that low-grade inflammation is correlated to IMT, as an indicator of early atherosclerosis, and is strongly associated to a variety of risk factors within the metabolic syndrome in a population at risk for type 2 diabetes.     

Association of risk factors and body iron status to carotid atherosclerosis in middle-aged Eastern Finnish men

High body iron stores have been proposed as a risk factor foradvanced atherosclerosis. We investigated the prevalence ofearly atherosclerotic changes, and their relation to conventionalCHD risk factors and body iron status. A cross-sectional studywas carried out in 206 men aged 50 to 60 years (6% random populationsample). Intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arterywas evaluated with high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Statisticalanalyses were performed separately for men with and withoutcardiovascular disease (CVD). Among all the study participants,6.6% had IMT >1.3 mm in the common carotid artery, whereas53.8% had IMT >1.5 mm in the carotid bifurcation. Respectivevalues were 4.8% and 46.8% for those without CVD, and 8.5% and62.2% for those with CVD. Mean IMT in the carotid bifurcation,the predilection site for atherosclerosis, was 1.85 mm (95%CI 1.72; 1.98) in the men with CVD, as compared to 1.65 mm (95%CI 1.56; 1.73) in the men free of CVD. Serum LDL cholesterol(beta;=0.26), saturated fat intake (beta;=0.20), blood haemoglobin(beta;= –0.29), systolic blood pressure (beta;=0.21) andsmoking (beta;=0.19), jointly explained 23% of the variancein the carotid bifurcation IMT in the men without CVD. Neitherserum ferritin, transferrin nor dietary iron levels were associatedwith carotid bifurcation atherosclerosis. On the other hand,in the men with CVD, age (beta;=0.34) and physical activity(beta;= – 0.25) jointly explained 16.5% of the IMT variancein the carotid bifurcation. Wliile traditional risk factorsfor CHD are also strong determinants of carotid artery intima-mediathickness in middle-aged men, the present data fail to showan association between body iron status and asymptomatic carotidatherosclerosis.