Arterial stiffness changes in patients with cardiovascular risk factors but normal carotid intima-media thickness

We aimed to evaluate, through an Echotracking system, the functional changes of carotid arteries with relation to the amount of cardiovascular risk factors (RF) in patients without structural atherosclerotic damage. Methods. From a series of 260 asymptomatic consecutive subjects we selected 75 subjects (mean age: 47±8 years)with normal intima-media thickness (IMT) and without atherosclerotic plaques. In these subjects, local arterial stiffness parameters were evaluated using a simple Echo-tracking system. Subjects were divided in three groups: group 1 (n= 25 subjects without RF), group 2 (n=23 patients with 1RF) and group 3 (n=27 patients with 2 or more RF). Results. Carotid IMT was similar in all groups (p=ns). On the contrary, stiffness parameters progressively increased according to the number of RF (PWV= 5.8 ±1.1 m/sec, 6.4±1.2 m/sec and 6.7±1.4 m/sec in Group 1, 2 and 3, respectively, p= 0.002; β- index= 7.5±3.4, 8.5±3.2 and 9.5±4.7 in Group 1, 2 and 3, respectively, p=0.047). Furthermore, on multivariate linear regression analysis, PWV and β-index significantly correlated (p= 0.002 and p= 0.048, respectively) with the number of RF even when adjusted for age, gender and current therapy. Conclusions. In a population with normal carotid IMT and without plaques, changes in arterial stiffness are significantly related to the number of RF. This information could be relevant for a more tailored primary prevention in patients with RF even in absence of structural atherosclerotic abnormalities.