Study design > Ultrasound measurements

Carotid artery intima-media thickness

- Common carotid IMT was measured approximately 10 mm proximal to the carotid bifurcation.

Carotid artery elasticity

- The common carotid diameter was measured in end-diastole and end-systole.

- Ultrasound and concomitant brachial blood pressure measurements were used to calculate carotid artery

Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation

- Left brachial artery diameter was measured both at rest and during reactive hyperemia.

- Increased flow was induced by inflation of a pneumatic tourniquet placed around the forearm to a pressure of 250 mmHg for 4.5 minutes, followed by a release.

- Measurements of arterial diameter were performed at end-diastole at a fixed distance from an anatomic marker at rest and 40, 60 and 80 seconds after cuff release.

- The vessel diameter in scans after reactive hyperemia was expressed as the percentage relative to resting scan (100 percent).

All the studies were performed using Acuson Sequoia 512, Scanning frequency 13MHz.