Author/Editor		Poredoš, Pavel; Kek, Anita
Title		Možnosti odkrivanja zgodnjih aterosklerotičnih sprememb arterijske stene
Translated title		Possibilities of detection of early atherosclerotic changes of arterial wall
Type		članek
Source		Zdrav Vestn
Vol. and No.		Letnik 65, št. 3
Publication year		1996
Volume		str. 131-5
Language		slo
Abstract		Background and methods. The investigation methods which enable detection of the most earliest functional and morphologic changes of arterial wall in atherosclerosis are presented. Ultrasonographic methods for examination of certain vascular segment with presentation of vascular lumen, vascular wall morphology simultaneously with measurement of blood flow velocity and blood flow volume are described. All these characteristics of examined circulatory segment could be presented with duplex scanning of the vessel in question. Methods for measurement of the thickness of internal layers of arterial wall (intima-media thickness) (IMT), atherosclerotic plaque size and morphology determination and possibilities of functional changes of arterial wall examination are presented in details. Thickenning of intima-media is the earliest detectable morphologic change of arterial wall in atherogenesis. Using ultrasound it can be very exactly measured on carotid and femoral arteries. Intima-media thickening which is still completely reversible is influenced by different risk factors for atherosclerosis. Therefore measurement of IMT provides the possibility of follow-up of the influence and doseresponse relation between risk factors and arterial wall morphology. Ultrasonographic methods are also of great utility for precise assessment of functional changes in peripheral arteries which are manifested as reduced dilation response during reactive hyperaemia. Such an assessment is based on blood flow velocity and blood volume flow measurement, and also flow dependent dilation of the examined arteries, which is reduced in patients with atherosclerotic vessel disease and in subjects with risk factors of atherosclerosis. Conclusions. Therefore nowadays we can detect early atherosclerotic changes of peripheral arteries entirely noninvasively what is of great prognostic and preventive importance because these early changes are completely reversible.
Descriptors		ATHEROSCLEROSIS ARTERIES