Intravascular Ultrasonographic Appearance of Angiographically Normal Arteries Related to Age and the Occurrence of Vascular Disease

In 22 individuals (mean age 52 years) the ultrasonographic images of arteries defined as normal by arteriography were studied and related to the age and medical history of the patients. The series was divided into 2 groups: patients with clinical manifestation of atherosclerosis and patients without a history of arterial disease. The study included 6 young patients (mean age 14 years) referred for angiographic documentation of abolished intracranial circulation. A typical 3-layered appearance of the arterial wall was found in young healthy individuals as well as in adult and elderly subjects. There was no difference in the ultrasonographic appearance of muscular and elastic arteries. In patients with extensive obstructive atherosclerosis affecting other parts of the arterial tree, a segment of the iliac artery can have the same appearance as seen in young healthy individuals. There are indications that severe hypertension can result in a thickening of the middle low-echogenic layer of the arterial wall. In patients with chronic renal insufficiency, small calcifications in the middle layer were a typical finding.