Figure 1.

Changes in carotid artery IMT

(A) Ultrasound image of a carotid artery. Bar indicates the border between the CCA and the bulb.

(B and C) Distribution of IMT changes in the carotid bulb and the CCA expressed in (B) mm change and (C) percent change during the study period. Values represent the means of the IMT in the left and right carotid arteries.

(D) Correlations between IMT change in the CCA and the bulb. Correlation was calculated using the Spearman rank test.

(E) Representative ultrasound images of an echolucent and an echogenic plaque. The arrow indicates the luminal surface of the echolucent plaque. Scale bars in (A) and (E) are 5 mm.