Telomere shortening over 6 years is associated with increased subclinical carotid vascular damage and worse cardiovascular prognosis in the general population

Introduction Leucocyte telomere length ( LTL ) is an important determinant of telomere function and cellular replicative capacity. The aim of the present study was to examine prospectively the associations between telomere shortening ( TS ) and both the progression of atherosclerosis and the incidence of cardiovascular events ( CVE s). Materials and methods Leucocyte telomere length was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction to...