Arterite difusa com inflamação de baixo grau = Aterosclerose

Association between Carotid Intima-Media Thickness
and Aortic Arch Plaques
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Background: Large aortic arch plaques are associated with ischemic stroke. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
The association between CIMT and aortic arch plaques has been studied in patients with strokes, but not in the general population. The aim of this study was to investigate this association in an elderly asymptomatic cohort and to assess the possibility of using CIMT to predict the presence or absence of large aortic arch plaques.
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Conclusions: CIMT at the bifurcation is independently associated with aortic arch plaque > 4 mm. Its strong negative predictive value for large plaques indicates that CIMT may be used as an initial screening test to exclude severe arch atherosclerosis in the general population.
(J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2010;23:772-7.)
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A avaliação de qualquer artéria se correlaciona com as artérias no geral, assim, ver a Carótida só pode revelar o que se passa na Aorta!
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