High resolution ultrasound can be used for the accurate measurement of intima-media thickness (IMT). The within-observer coefficient of variation of the IMT of two carotids measured seven times each on different days by two different observers was between 4% and 8%, and the mean absolute difference of the IMT of 68 carotids measured independently by two observers was 0.11 +/- 0.11 mm (mean value +/- SD). Seventy-five consecutive male patients who underwent coronary angiography for assessment of chest pain and 40 normal controls matched for age and sex, were examined with high resolution B-mode ultrasound. The IMT of the common carotid artery for the controls was 0.71 +/- 0.16 mm and for the patients 0.91 +/- 0.18 mm (P < 0.005). In patients with normal coronary angiogram the IMT was 0.73 +/- 0.1 mm, and this increased in each of the subgroups with coronary stenosis compared to patients who had a normal coronary angiogram. In the group with one-vessel disease it was 0.91 +/- 0.17 mm (P < 0.05, ANOVA), in the group with two-vessel disease it was 0.96 +/- 0.17 mm (P < 0.01), and in the group with three-vessel disease it was 0.99 +/- 0.21 mm (P < 0.01). There was a significant linear trend between IMT and the number of involved vessels (P < 0.0001, r = 0.44). An IMT > or = 0.85 mm was derived from the studied population of 75 patients as a criterion for the prediction of coronary artery disease (CAD).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Thrombolysis started by nurses is safe and effective in patients with acute myocardial infarction. It may provide a way by which the national service framework's targets for door to needle times can be achieved.

Delayed conduction is an important feature of severe cardiac hypertrophy in guinea pigs and man. Hypertrophy is associated with accentuated conduction delay and altered repolarisation during ischaemia.

It is concluded that the IMT may be a useful surrogate end-point or biological marker of coronary artery disease and might be considered for use in prospective studies and clinical trials.