Determination of bilateral symmetry of carotid artery structure and function in children and adolescents

The carotid artery represents an ideal location for noninvasive assessment of subclinical atherosclerosis in youth. Examination of arterial structure and function is generally conducted in the left common carotid. However, if the left common carotid is inaccessible or provides a poor acoustic window, it is unknown if the right common carotid can provide comparable values. The symmetry of carotid arteries in youth with high-resolution ultrasound was compared. Participants (N=230 [121 females], 13.8±2.9 years old) were assessed for carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), carotid lumen diameter (cLD), carotid incremental elastic modulus (cIEM), carotid diameter compliance (cDC), carotid cross-sectional compliance (cCSC), carotid diameter distensibility (cDD), and carotid cross-sectional distensibility (cCSD). No significant differences ( P >0.05 all) were found for cIMT (0.49±0.09 vs 0.49±0.08 mm), cIEM (1095±382 vs 1116±346 mmHg), cDC (0.01±0.0 vs 0.01±0.0 mm/mmHg), cCSC (0.01±0.001/mmHg vs 0.01±0.001/mmHg), cDD (14.0%±3.16% vs 13.7%±3.18%), and cCSD (30.1%±7.37% vs 29.4%±7.36%). Significant differences were found for cLD (6.06±0.62 mm vs 6.33±0.64 mm, P <0.001). The majority of measures for arterial structure and function are comparable between the left and right common carotid arteries. There were differences present for cLD; however, these discrepancies are likely due to anatomical differences between the left and right common carotid arteries. Therefore, if the left common carotid is unable to be assessed properly, the right common carotid may be a viable alternative measurement location of subclinical atherosclerosis.