Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Research Letter
  • Published:

Validation of a new automated IMT measurement algorithm

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 21, pages 976–978 (2007)Cite this article

Several large-scale studies have confirmed that intima–media thickness (IMT) values can be used to accurately identify cardiovascular risk. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 With the advent of more accurate ultrasonographic measurement applications, there has been a growing interest in validated, clinically applicable tools for performing automated IMT measurements. This study aims to validate a new semi-automated IMT detection algorithm, supplied by GE Vingmed Ultrasound, by comparing it with IMT measurements performed manually at the common carotid artery.

For the purpose of this study, a subset of 150 subjects was drafted from the Asklepios Study database. The Asklepios Study is a longitudinal population study aiming to investigate the interplay between ageing, cardiovascular disease and inflammation in (pre)-clinical cardiovascular disease.6 The Asklepios Study population consists of 2524 subjects (1301 women, 1223 men) aged between 35 and 55 years old and free from overt cardiovascular disease at study onset. All elements of the Asklepios Study protocol were approved by the Ethics Committee of Ghent University Hospital and all subjects gave written informed consent. From this database, 150 subjects were randomly selected after stratification for IMT. The stratification was performed to ensure that there was no unintentional bias of small or large IMT values in the study population and that a wide range of IMT values were available to test the automated algorithm against. Subjects with plaque at the IMT measurement site were excluded.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Bots ML, Hoes AW, Koudstaal PJ, Hofman A, Grobbee DE . Common carotid intima–media thickness and risk of stroke and myocardial infarction – the Rotterdam Study. Circulation 1997; 96: 1432–1437.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Burke GL, Evans GW, Riley WA, Sharrett AR, Howard G, Barnes RW et al. Arterial-wall thickness is associated with prevalent cardiovascular-disease in middle-aged adults – the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (Aric) Study. Stroke 1995; 26: 386–391.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Nichols WW, Pepine CJ, O’Rourke MF . Carotid-artery intima and media thickness as a risk factor for myocardial infarction and stroke. N Engl J Med 1999; 340: 1762–1763.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Raitakari OT, Juonala M, Kahonen M, Taittonen L, Laitinen T, Maki-Torkko N et al. Cardiovascular risk factors in childhood and carotid artery intima–media thickness in adulthood – the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. JAMA 2003; 290: 2277–2283.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Salonen JT, Salonen R . Ultrasonographically assessed carotid morphology and the risk of coronary heart disease. Arterioscler Thromb 1991; 11: 1245–1249.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Rietzschel ER, De Buyzere ML, Bekaert S, Segers P, De Bacquer D, Cooman L et al. Rationale, design, methods and baseline characteristics of the Asklepios Study. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil 2007; 14: 179–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Kanters SD, Algra A, van Leeuwen MS, Banga JD . Reproducibility of in vivo carotid intima–media thickness measurements: a review. Stroke 1997; 28: 665–671.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Gepner AD, Korcarz CE, Aeschlimann SE, LeCaire TJ, Palta M, Tzou WS et al. Validation of a carotid intima–media thickness border detection program for use in an office setting. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2006; 19: 223–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Stein JH, Korcarz CE, Mays ME, Douglas PS, Palta M, Zhang H et al. A semiautomated ultrasound border detection program that facilitates clinical measurement of ultrasound carotid intima–media thickness. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2005; 18: 244–251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiovascular Mechanics and Biofluid Dynamics, IBiTech, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    S J Vermeersch, P R Verdonck & P Segers

  2. Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    E R Rietzschel, M L De Buyzere & T C Gillebert

  3. Ghent University Hospital, Heymans Institute of Pharmacology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    L M Van Bortel

  4. Medical Imaging and Signal Processing, IBiTech, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Y D'Asseler

Authors
  1. S J Vermeersch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E R Rietzschel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M L De Buyzere
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. L M Van Bortel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Y D'Asseler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. T C Gillebert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. P R Verdonck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. P Segers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S J Vermeersch.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vermeersch, S., Rietzschel, E., De Buyzere, M. et al. Validation of a new automated IMT measurement algorithm. J Hum Hypertens 21, 976–978 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1002251

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1002251

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links