Measurement of Carotid Plaque and Effect of Vitamin Therapy for Total Homocysteine
-
J. David Spence
Abstract
Background: Many new therapies are being developed that are anti-atherosclerotic, but which do not change clinical parameters such as blood pressure or cholesterol. In order to measure the effects of these therapies it will be necessary to measure atherosclerosis. Elevated levels of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) are associated with increased risk of stroke and myocardial infarction. Measurement of the effect of vitamin therapy on atherosclerosis has therefore been used as an example of this approach.
Methods: 2-Dimensional measurement of carotid plaque cross-sectional area has been used to measure effects of vitamin therapy in patients whose plaque is progressing despite intensive treatment of traditional risk factors. In clinic patients, addition of vitamin therapy halted progression of atherosclerosis, in samples of 50 patients over 2.5 years. However, in patients randomized to high-dose vs. low-dose vitamins in the Vitamin Intervention for Stroke Prevention trial, no difference in plaque progression was seen between high-dose and low-dose vitamin therapy. New methods have been developed for the measurement of 3-dimensional plaque volume, and for the measurement of plaque surface roughness.
Results: The accuracy and reliability of the measurement of plaque volume is 95%. This will permit measurement of effects of new anti-atherosclerotic therapies with much smaller sample sizes, in a much shorter time, than previously available methods such as intima-media thickness.
Conclusion: Measurement of atherosclerotic plaque volume and roughness will greatly enhance the study of new anti-atherosclerotic therapies.
Copyright © 2003 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
Articles in the same Issue
- Where Are We Standing in Homocysteine Research?
- DACH-LIGA Homocystein (German, Austrian and Swiss Homocysteine Society): Consensus Paper on the Rational Clinical Use of Homocysteine, Folic Acid and B-Vitamins in Cardiovascular and Thrombotic Diseases: Guidelines and Recommendations
- Hyperhomocysteinaemia as a Risk Factor for Venous Thrombosis: An Update of the Current Evidence
- Does Homocysteine Cause Hypertension?
- Homocysteine Metabolism in Renal Disease
- Hyperhomocysteinemia and B-Vitamin Deficiencies in Infants and Children
- The Role of Genetic Factors in the Development of Hyperhomocysteinemia
- New Basis of the Neurotrophic Action of Vitamin B12
- Hyperhomocysteinemia and Immune Activation
- Interactions of Homocysteine, Nitric Oxide, Folate and Radicals in the Progressively Damaged Endothelium
- Influence of Hyperhomocysteinemia on the Cellular Redox State – Impact on Homocysteine-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction
- Homocysteine-Thiolactone and S-Nitroso-Homocysteine Mediate Incorporation of Homocysteine into Protein in Humans
- Association of Asymmetric Dimethylarginine and Endothelial Dysfunction
- Genetic Determinants of Folate and Vitamin B12 Metabolism: A Common Pathway in Neural Tube Defect and Down Syndrome?
- Functional Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Determination of Holotranscobalamin in Populations at Risk
- Holotranscobalamin as a Predictor of Vitamin B12 Status
- Hyperhomocysteinemia and B-Vitamin Status after Discontinuation of Oral Anticoagulation Therapy in Patients with a History of Venous Thromboembolism
- Measurement of Carotid Plaque and Effect of Vitamin Therapy for Total Homocysteine
- Folate Improves Endothelial Function in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease
- The Impact of Hyperhomocysteinemia as a Cardiovascular Risk Factor in the Prediction of Coronary Heart Disease
- Homocysteine Increases during Endurance Exercise
- Comparison of the Influence of Volume-Oriented Training and High-Intensity Interval Training on Serum Homocysteine and Its Cofactors in Young, Healthy Swimmers
- Analysis of the Transcobalamin II 776C>G (259P>R) Single Nucleotide Polymorphism by Denaturing HPLC in Healthy Elderly: Associations with Cobalamin, Homocysteine and Holo-Transcobalamin II
- Meetings and Awards
Articles in the same Issue
- Where Are We Standing in Homocysteine Research?
- DACH-LIGA Homocystein (German, Austrian and Swiss Homocysteine Society): Consensus Paper on the Rational Clinical Use of Homocysteine, Folic Acid and B-Vitamins in Cardiovascular and Thrombotic Diseases: Guidelines and Recommendations
- Hyperhomocysteinaemia as a Risk Factor for Venous Thrombosis: An Update of the Current Evidence
- Does Homocysteine Cause Hypertension?
- Homocysteine Metabolism in Renal Disease
- Hyperhomocysteinemia and B-Vitamin Deficiencies in Infants and Children
- The Role of Genetic Factors in the Development of Hyperhomocysteinemia
- New Basis of the Neurotrophic Action of Vitamin B12
- Hyperhomocysteinemia and Immune Activation
- Interactions of Homocysteine, Nitric Oxide, Folate and Radicals in the Progressively Damaged Endothelium
- Influence of Hyperhomocysteinemia on the Cellular Redox State – Impact on Homocysteine-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction
- Homocysteine-Thiolactone and S-Nitroso-Homocysteine Mediate Incorporation of Homocysteine into Protein in Humans
- Association of Asymmetric Dimethylarginine and Endothelial Dysfunction
- Genetic Determinants of Folate and Vitamin B12 Metabolism: A Common Pathway in Neural Tube Defect and Down Syndrome?
- Functional Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Determination of Holotranscobalamin in Populations at Risk
- Holotranscobalamin as a Predictor of Vitamin B12 Status
- Hyperhomocysteinemia and B-Vitamin Status after Discontinuation of Oral Anticoagulation Therapy in Patients with a History of Venous Thromboembolism
- Measurement of Carotid Plaque and Effect of Vitamin Therapy for Total Homocysteine
- Folate Improves Endothelial Function in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease
- The Impact of Hyperhomocysteinemia as a Cardiovascular Risk Factor in the Prediction of Coronary Heart Disease
- Homocysteine Increases during Endurance Exercise
- Comparison of the Influence of Volume-Oriented Training and High-Intensity Interval Training on Serum Homocysteine and Its Cofactors in Young, Healthy Swimmers
- Analysis of the Transcobalamin II 776C>G (259P>R) Single Nucleotide Polymorphism by Denaturing HPLC in Healthy Elderly: Associations with Cobalamin, Homocysteine and Holo-Transcobalamin II
- Meetings and Awards
