This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing theresources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject andinvestigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source,and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed isfor the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.Multiple risk factors contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. The National Cholesterol Education Program provides guidleines for the prevention, diagnosis and management of coroanry aretery disease (CAD) based on the Framingham risk score (FRS), an algorithm that assigns weights to the major CAD risk factors . Uncertainties of the current predictive models, including FRS have been established and have prompted a search for new strategies to improve upon risk stratification. Several methods have been used to measure the presence of atherosclerosis in study populations and to track the progression of subclinical disease. Many have high specificity and sensitivity but are invasive and/or costly. Cholesterol is deposited in tissues other than the vasculature including skin. It is the major constituent of skin and comprises 11%, by weight, of total body content of choleseterol. Skin tissue cholesterol (SC) has been suggested to reflect vascular changes associated with age and atheroslcerosis. Recently SC levels have been shown to be significantly associated with positive treadmill stress tests and angiographic CAD. Additional studies have shown a relationship between SC and circulating inflammatory markers and subclinical atherosclerosis. In addition SC is associated with increased carotid IMT even after adjusting for age, sex and other cardiac risk factors. SC was associated with increased carotied IMT after adjustent for Framingham risk score. This multicenter study will determine the correlation between skin cholesterol and carotid IMT in 600 asymptomatic subjects selected as being low, intermediate and high risk by FRS risk estimate. Skin cholesterol will also be compared to established and novel markers of CAD risk.
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