Coll Blai, Feinstein Steven B
Cardiology Department, Echocardiography Laboratory at Rush Medical Hospital, 1653 West Congress Parkway, Jelke Building 1015, Chicago, IL 66610, USA.
Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2008 Oct;10(5):444-50. doi: 10.1007/s11883-008-0068-1.
Atherosclerosis is a systemic disease that is responsible for most cardiovascular events and stroke. Epidemiologic studies and intervention trials based on the incidence of acute vascular disease end points require years of follow-up, the participation of large populations, or both. As a consequence, such studies consume considerable time and financial resources. The use of surrogate markers, therefore, is of paramount relevance because it allows researchers to have reliable data in less time and from reduced populations. Intima-media thickness (IMT) measured by B-mode ultrasound is the most studied surrogate marker and has been validated by official medical agencies. In this article, we review the most important technical considerations related to its measurement and highlight issues that should be systematically addressed in IMT-related studies. In summary, the use of IMT as an end point in clinical studies is of great value, but several technical limitations might jeopardize its interpretation.
动脉粥样硬化是一种全身性疾病，是大多数心血管事件和中风的病因。基于急性血管疾病终点发生率的流行病学研究和干预试验需要数年的随访、大量人群的参与，或者两者兼备。因此，此类研究耗费大量时间和财力。因此，使用替代标志物至关重要，因为它能让研究人员在更短时间内从更少人群中获得可靠数据。通过B型超声测量的内膜中层厚度（IMT）是研究最多的替代标志物，并且已得到官方医疗机构的验证。在本文中，我们回顾了与其测量相关的最重要技术考量，并强调了在IMT相关研究中应系统解决的问题。总之，在临床研究中使用IMT作为终点具有重要价值，但一些技术限制可能会影响对其的解读。
