Our objective was to study the interrelationships between longitudinal movement of the wall of the common carotid artery and the conventional measures of arteriosclerosis in a large and well-characterized study population. Successful longitudinal movement analyses were performed on 292 subjects. The peak-to-peak and retrograde amplitudes of the longitudinal movement were directly correlated with carotid artery distensibility (r = 0Á21, P<0Á001 and r = 0Á23, P<0Á001, respectively) and inversely correlated with pulse wave velocity (r = À0Á14, P<0Á05 and r = À0Á17, P<0Á01, respectively). All longitudinal motion parameters were independent of brachial flow-mediated dilatation and intima-media thickness. Our findings indicate that arterial stiffening modulates longitudinal movement and, therefore, measurement of longitudinal movement can be of value in the assessment of vascular health.

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Background and aims: Our objective was to study relationships between the new biomarker of vascular health, carotid artery longitudinal wall motion (CALM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: Carotid ultrasound and assessment of MetS and its components were performed with 281 subjects aged 30-45 years. In the longitudinal motion analysis, the amplitude of motion and the antegrade-oriented and retrograde-oriented components of motion between the intima-media complex and adventitial layer of the common carotid artery wall were assessed. Results: Metabolic syndrome, according to the harmonized criteria, was detected in 53 subjects (19%). MetS was significantly associated with increased antegrade and decreased retrograde longitudinal motion in the carotid artery wall. Augmented antegrade amplitude of longitudinal motion was associated with obesity (β = 0.149, p < .05) and low HDL cholesterol (β = 0.177, p < .01). Attenuated retrograde amplitude of longitudinal motion was associated with hypertension (β = −0.156, p < .05), obesity (β = −0.138, p < .05) and hyperinsulinaemia (β = −0.158, p < .01). Moreover, insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment index above 2.44) was associated with adverse changes in CALM. Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance were associated with alterations in CALM. In particular, hypertension, obesity and hyperinsulinaemia were associated with reduced total peak-to-peak amplitude as well as increased antegrade and reduced retrograde amplitudes, all of which might be markers of unfavourable vascular health. How to cite this article: Taivainen SH, Laitinen TM, Yli-Ollila H, et al. Carotid artery longitudinal wall motion alterations associated with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.