European Society of Hypertension Scientific Newsletter : Update on Hypertension Management 2007 ; 8 : No . 11 revised version ASSESSMENT OF PRECLINICAL TARGET ORGAN DAMAGE IN HYPERTENSION : CAROTID INTIMA-MEDIA THICKNESS AND PLAQUE

Carotid intima-media thickness and plaque High-resolution ultrasound of the carotid arteries may allow the measurement of the intima-media complex in the arterial wall. Population studies, such as the Vobarno [1], the Rotterdam [2] and the Cardiovascular Health Study [3], have clearly demonstrated that systolic blood pressure is a major determinant of an increase in intimamedia thickness (IMT) in the carotid arteries, particularly in hypertensive patients.

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