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Study design:Cross-sectional comparison, control group.Objectives:To investigate the relationship between carotid arterial stiffness and circulating markers for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in spinal cord-injured (SCI) subjects compared with able-bodied (AB) individuals.Setting:University Research Laboratory, University of Louisville.Methods:SCI (n=14) and AB (n=13) subjects between 20-52 years of age were recruited to participate in the study. B-mode Doppler ultrasound was used to obtain carotid artery diameter measurements. Arterial stiffness was assessed via the stiffness index and distensibility coefficient. Markers of CVD risk were obtained by fasting blood draw.Results:Carotid arterial stiffness index (P=0.061) and distensibility coefficient (P=0.370) were not different between the SCI and AB groups. The SCI group had higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (P=0.046), triglycerides (P=0.017), leptin (P=0.040) and visfatin (P<0.001) compared with the control group. Visfatin (r=0.559, P=0.047), hsCRP (r=0.633, P=0.037), insulin (r=0.637, P=0.019) and HOMA (r=0.614, P=0.026) significantly correlated with carotid arterial stiffness index in the SCI group.Conclusion:This study demonstrated that SCI subjects are at a high cardiovascular risk as indicated by elevated hsCRP levels. Elevations in hsCRP and visfatin may contribute to accelerated atherogenic processes in the SCI population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]