A Comparative Study On Risk Factors Between The Early And Advanced Stages Of Atherosclerosis

Backround Early nonstenotic atherosclerosis is thought to be a slow process of continuous growth of lesions, often accompanied with effectively compensatory vascular remodeling. The slow growth of lesions may occasionally be accelerated by plaque rupture and mural thrombi. Because of lack of effectively vascular remodeling, significant stenosis or even cardiovascular/cerebrovascular event may occur. The purpose of this study is to compare risk profiles between early and advanced atherosclerosis. Methods Using Magnetic Resonance Angiography and high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography, we select patients with advanced atherosclerosis (patients who suffered from brain infarction or transient ischemic attack due to large artery atherosclerosis, n=92), and early atherosclerosis (Patients who never suffered from any cardiovascular/cerebrovascular disease without a carotid stenosis≥40% on duplex ultrasound, n=120). Binary Logistic Regression is separated used to determine the effective risk factors that cause early atherosclerosis (plaque appearance) and advanced atherosclerosis. Result Hypertension, age, smoking, total cholesterol are significant variables in the "plaque appearance" model. Men, age, diabetes mellitus, lipoprotein(a), high density lipoprotein cholesterol are independent predictors of advanced atherosclerosis. Conclusion The risk profiles are different between advanced atherosclerosis and early atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein (a), diabetis mellitus may play important roles in advanced atherosclerosis.