Common carotid intimal medial thickness in a Kenyan population

Abstract

Carotid intimal medial thickness, a marker for early atherosclerosis, has high clinical utility. It shows gender, regional, age and ethnic differences but data from black African populations are scarce. This study describes the carotid intimal medial thickness in a black Kenyan population. One hundred and fifty histological samples from 25 males and 25 female left common carotid arteries were routinely processed for light microscopy and stained using Mason’s Trichrome stain. The intimal medial thickness was measured on the photomicrographs using the Scion Multiscan software. The mean age of the cases was 28+19yrs. Mean carotid intimal medial thickness is higher in males (0.97+0.22) than females (0.77+0.06), p=0.05 and increases distally. Carotid intimal medial thickness increased with age being 0.5+0.16mm, 0.87+0.24mm and 1.21+0.36 mm for the age groups 0-20yrs, 21-40yrs and 41-60yrs respectively (p=0.035). Carotid intimal medial thickness in black Africans is similar to that reported for Caucasian populations. It is higher in males, increases distally and with age.

Keywords: Carotid Intimal medial thickness, atherosclerosis