Abstract
We studied the intima-media thickness (IMT) of 427 examinees using the ultrasound diagnostic system with the IMT automatic measurement software (SDU-2200 by Shimadzu Corporation) in September 2002. We measured the maximum IMT on the far wall of the right common carotid artery, the average IMT at three points among the maximum IMT, a point in 1cm before and after the maximum IMT, and the average IMT between 2cm section of the right common cavatid avtery (ave-IMT). All of the IMT values correlated with the age. The correlation coefficients of the ave-IMT values were the highest. Next, we studied the correlation between the ave-IMT and other examinations. We recognized the correlation in body mass index, HbA1c, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar level, diastolic blood pressure and LDL-cholesterol in the descending order in the male, and in LDL-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HbA1c, HDL-cholesterol, fat in body mass(%), body mass index and high-sensitivity CRP in the descending order in the female. In the ave-IMT values using the IMT automatic measurement software, the correlation is recognized with the age and life-style related diseases on atherosclerosis. It is concluded that the ave-IMT can be used to motivate improvement of life-style and evaluate the progresses of atherosclerosis, and that the ave-IMT is a useful examination in the human dry dock.
