Non-stenotic echolucent ultrasound-assessed femoral artery plaques are predictive for future cardiovascular events in middle-aged men

This is the first study to show that the presence of non-stenotic plaques in the femoral artery in middle-aged men without prior cardiovascular events has a predictive value for future cardiovascular events. The relationship was attenuated by adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Data also indicates that plaque echolucency predicts increased risk.