Cor Vasa 2003, 44(9):445-448
Subclinical atherosclerosis
- 1 III. interní klinika, Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice a 1. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy
- 2 Subkatedra angiologie IPVZ, Praha, Česká republika
Comprehensive secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) is required by almost every patient presenting with manifestations of atherosclerosis. The same management is required by patients with subclinical atherosclerosis, i. e., sympatomatic subjects with documented atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic disease can be diagnosed using various techniques. Simple techniques include auscultation of arteries, measurement of blood pressure in the lower limbs above the ankle, evidence of plaques, and presence of arterial calcification, or even simple intima-media-thickness enlargement, as detected by examinations using imaging techniques, undertaken for various reasons. As a result, the difference between primary and secondary prevention has vanished and prevention may thus be targeted well in time at highest-risk individuals.
Keywords: Prevention of atherosclerosis; Ultrasound; Ankle pressure; Intima-media thickness; Calcification; Imaging technique
Published: September 1, 2003 Show citation