Interrelation between the extent of atherosclerosis in the thoracic aorta, carotid intima-media thickness and the extent of coronary artery disease

Intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery and atherosclerosis of the thoracic aorta have been shown to correlate with coronary artery disease (CAD). This study compares the relation between wall changes in the thoracic aorta and the carotid arteries and the angiographic severity and extent of atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary arteries in patients with verified CAD. Atherosclerotic wall changes in the carotid arteries and the thoracic aorta were measured by B-mode ultrasonography and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), respectively, in 37 subjects aged 65+/-10 years with angiographically verified CAD. The mean value of the common carotid IMT of the right and left sides was 0.87+/-0.21 mm. All subjects had carotid plaques. TEE detected grades II-IV atherosclerotic plaques in the thoracic aorta in 32 of the 37 (86%) patients. A significant correlation was seen between the extent of coronary artery stenosis and aortic plaques score (r=0.46, p=0.008). Mean carotid IMT was also significantly correlated with coronary artery stenosis extent score (r=0.44, p=0.007). Moreover, a significant correlation was seen between the aortic plaque score and the mean carotid IMT (r=0.39, p=0.02). In conclusion, we found a clear and significant relationship between wall changes in the thoracic aorta, common carotid IMT and the angiographic extent of coronary artery stenosis in patients with severe CAD. These findings indicate a potential of B-mode ultrasonography of the carotid arteries and transesophageal echocardiographic aortic examination in the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of patients with suspected CAD.     

Relationship of carotid intima-media thickness, pulse wave velocity, and ankle brachial index to the severity of coronary artery atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND: Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and the ankle brachial index (ABI) are widely used noninvasive modalities for evaluating atherosclerosis. HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of carotid IMT, PWV, and ABI with the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), expressed as the Gensini score, and the presence of coronary risk factors. METHODS: We examined 205 consecutive patients (mean age 65 +/- 12 years) who were clinically suspected of having CAD and were scheduled to undergo coronary angiography. Carotid intima-media thickness, brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV), and ABI were measured in all subjects before they underwent coronary angiography. RESULTS: Of the 205 patients, 124 patients were diagnosed as having CAD based on the presence of >50% stenosis in a major coronary artery; the remaining 81 patients did not have CAD. A relatively good correlation was obtained between carotid IMT and the Gensini score (R = 0.411, p < 0.0001), whereas baPWV correlated only weakly with the Gensini score (R = 0.203, p = 0.0035), and ABI did not correlate with it. A multiple regression analysis revealed that the Gensini score correlated significantly and independently with age, male gender, and carotid IMT. CONCLUSIONS: Of the three noninvasive methods, carotid IMT may be more useful for determining coronary artery atherosclerosis than baPWV or ABI.     

Common carotid intima-media thickness is correlated with myocardial flow reserve in patients with coronary artery disease: a useful non-invasive indicator of coronary atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND: The common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is correlated with the angiographically determined coronary artery stenosis. However, their correlation is weak, which limits the clinical application of the IMT as a predictor of coronary artery stenosis. The IMT reflects diffuse early-phase atherosclerosis, whereas the angiographically determined coronary artery stenosis is a late-phase phenomenon. The latter is localized and rapidly progressive with plaque rupture and acute thrombosis. Instead of the angiographically determined coronary artery stenosis, we employed myocardial flow reserve (MFR) that reflects diffuse early-phase coronary atherosclerosis and impaired coronary vasodilatation function. We evaluated the relationship between the IMT and the MFR. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with angiographically diagnosed coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent B-mode ultrasound examination to measure their common carotid IMT and positron emission tomography (PET) with dipyridamole intervention to obtain their MFR. We also performed B-mode ultrasound examination in 21 patients with hypertension without CAD and in 15 control subjects. RESULTS: The common carotid IMT in patients with CAD was thickened (0.92+/-0.15 vs. 0.81+/-0.14 mm in patients with hypertension (P<0.05) and 0.69+/-0.13 mm in control subjects (P<0.01)). The IMT was inversely correlated with the MFR (r=0.51, P<0.01). The correlations between the MFR and most of the coronary risk factors (age, blood pressure, serum cholesterol level and triglyceride level, HbA1c level, smoking index) did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Thickened common carotid IMT is also an indicator of reduced MFR or early-phase coronary atherosclerosis.     

Significance of the intima-media thickness of the thoracic aorta in patients with coronary atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and clinical significance of atherosclerotic aortic disease have now been documented in a variety of patient populations by use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). There are many reports that atherosclerotic aortic plaques detected by TEE are a marker for coronary artery disease (CAD). HYPOTHESIS: The study was undertaken to evaluate the significance of the intima-media thickness (IMT) and formation of atherosclerotic plaques of the thoracic aorta (TA) in patients with CAD, especially in terms of a correlation between the IMT of the TA and the extent of coronary atherosclerosis. METHODS: The IMT of the TA was measured using TEE. The study population comprised 100 patients (68 men, mean age 59 years). The extent of coronary atherosclerosis was divided into four groups (0, 1, 2, 3) according to the number of coronary arteries narrowed > or = 50%. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the IMT of the ascending TA according to the presence of significant (> 50% narrowed) coronary stenosis, but there was a significant difference in the IMT of the descending TA (1.39 vs. 1.88 mm, p = 0.005). There was a significant correlation between the extent of coronary atherosclerosis and the IMT of the ascending and descending TA (r = 0.24, p < 0.05; r = 0.352, p < 0.001, respectively). The plaques in the TA were seen in 7, 41, 52, and 65% of patients in Groups 0, 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Among atherosclerosis risk factors, hyperlipidemia was the only factor analyzed that affected the IMT of the descending TA (2.11 vs. 1.78 mm, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The IMT of the TA correlates significantly with coronary atherosclerosis, and correlation of the descending TA IMT with coronary atherosclerosis is better than that of ascending TA IMT. Age is associated with coronary atherosclerosis, and TA IMT and hyperlipidemia are associated with descending TA IMT. Therefore, although TEE is not recommended for measuring TA IMT or for evaluating aortic plaques in patients with CAD, measurement of TA IMT as well as carotid artery IMT is very helpful for understanding the extent of coronary atherosclerosis.     

Atherosclerotic changes of extracoronary arteries are associated with the extent of coronary atherosclerosis

The aim of the present study was to examine the association between carotid and femoral artery intima media thickness (IMT) and the extent and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as the effects of traditional vascular risk factors on the atherosclerotic changes in the carotid and femoral arteries. Two hundred twenty-four patients who underwent coronary angiography for suspected CAD were evaluated by B-mode ultrasound imaging of the common carotid, internal carotid, carotid bifurcation, and femoral artery for measurement of IMT; traditional vascular risk factors were also evaluated in these patients. CAD extent was evaluated by the number of diseased vessels and by Gensini score. Age, male gender, and diabetes were common risk factors for higher CAD extent and higher carotid and femoral IMT. Insulin levels were correlated with femoral IMT and CAD extent, whereas blood lipids were correlated predominantly with carotid IMT. IMT from carotid and femoral arteries increased significantly with an increase in CAD extent. Using multiple stepwise regression analysis, the following parameters were found to be independent predictors of CAD extent: male gender (p<0.0001), common femoral artery IMT (p = 0.0028), common carotid artery IMT (p = 0.015), age (p = 0.02), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.035), and carotid artery bulb IMT (p = 0.04). Common femoral IMT was the only independent parameter for predicting Gensini score (p<0.0001). In conclusion, there are territorial differences in the various arterial beds regarding their response to risk factors. Femoral artery and carotid bulb are independent predictors of CAD extent and the inclusion of these measurements would add information to that provided by the common carotid artery.     

A rare case of lack of correlation of carotid atherosclerosis and coronary atherosclerosis

Signs of plaque inflammation in carotid arteries may serve as a window to the entire cardiovascular system, to identify “vulnerable” patients. Moreover, flow-mediated vasodilation in the brachial artery and intima media thickness (IMT) in the carotid artery could represent a surrogate diagnostic method for assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) severity. Renal function is an important predictor of the presence and severity of angiographic CAD in patients without severe renal impairment with incremental value over traditional risk factors for CAD and IMT. It has also been reported ,that renal dysfunction may exert differential effects on the development of coronary and peripheral atherosclerosis. An accumulating burden of hypertension, diabetes, and smoking is important in the progression of atherosclerosis from the coronary to the carotid circulation. We present an unusual case of lack of correlation of carotid atherosclerosis and coronary atherosclerosis.     

颈动脉粥样硬化与冠心病关系的研究

目的:研究颈动脉粥样硬化与冠心病的关系。方法:对301例冠状动脉造影的患者作双侧颈动脉超声检查,根据冠脉造影结果分为正常组及冠心病组,冠心病组根据冠状动脉病变支数再分为一支病变组,二支病变组,三支病变组3个亚组。测量颈总动脉后壁内中膜厚度(IMT),斑块厚度,计算斑块积分及粥样斑块发生率。结果:(1)冠心病组IMT,斑块积分及斑块发生率明显高于正常对照组(P<0.01)。(2)随冠脉病变支数增加,斑块积分及IMT增加,亚组比较有显著性差异(P<0.01)。(3)以IMT>0.85mm和(或)出现粥样斑块预测冠心病,特异性75.3％,敏感性84.6％,阳性预测率88.4％。结论:通过颈动脉超声检查可为冠心病的诊断提供依据。     

冠心病血管内皮功能、颈动脉硬化与冠脉病变的关系

目的：观察冠心病（CAD）患者内皮依赖性舒张功能及颈动脉粥样硬化的状况及与冠状动脉病变的相关性。方法：选经冠状动脉造影确诊为CAD的患者106例（观察组），冠状动脉造影证实无冠状动脉狭窄的健康者40例（正常对照组），采用二维超声检测肱动脉内皮依赖性和非依赖性舒张功能及颈动脉粥样硬化病变。颈动脉粥样硬化斑块积分采用Sutton法，并与冠状动脉病变程度进行对比分析。结果：CAD组内皮依赖性血管舒缩功能（FMD）比正常对照组明显降低（P〈0．01），内皮非依赖性血管舒缩功能与正常对照组比较无显著性差异（P〉0．05）；CAD组颈动脉内膜中层厚度（IMT），斑块积分显著高于正常对照组（P〈0．01）。FMD与冠脉病变程度呈负相关（r=-0．651，P〈0．001），颈动脉IMI及斑块积分与冠脉病变程度呈正相关（r=0．871，0．702，P〈0．001）。结论：内皮细胞功能障碍和颈动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉粥样硬化的病变相平行。     

风心病患者瓣膜置换术前颈动脉超声检查的临床意义

目的探讨颈动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉粥样硬化的相关性以及颈动脉内膜—中膜厚度(IMT)对风心病患者是否合并冠心病的预测价值。方法117例风心病患者根据冠状动脉造影结果分为冠心病组和对照组,用B超检测颈动脉病变情况。结果颈动脉IMT增厚和斑块检出率对冠心病预测的敏感性为81.82%(9/11),特异性为75.47%(80/106),阳性预测值为25.71%(9/35),阴性预测值为97.56%(80/82)。IMT异常与冠状动脉硬化程度积分呈显著正相关(r=0.55,P<0.01)。结论B超检测颈动脉粥样硬化对风心病患者是否合并冠心病具有预测价值。     

Descending aorta wall volume and coronary artery disease: a comparative study using enhanced computed tomography of the chest and coronary angiography

The study examined the association between aortic wall volume (AWV) detected by enhanced computed tomography and coronary artery atherosclerosis observed on angiography. In 180 cases, AWV was measured as the total wall volume of a 7-cm portion of the descending thoracic aorta distal from the tracheal bifurcation. Coronary artery atherosclerosis was angiographically quantified by both Gensini score, in terms of the severity of coronary artery stenosis, and Extent score, in terms of the severity of coronary artery involvement. Mean AWV values between the patients with significant coronary artery stenosis and those without significant stenosis were 9.83+/-4.04 cm3 and 8.09+/-2.39 cm3, respectively (p<0.001). AWV was a significantly independent variable for significant coronary artery disease (p=0.0097) and an Extent score > or = 60 (p=0.0092). Calcification of AWV, however, was not associated with coronary atherosclerosis. The quantification of aortic atherosclerosis was useful for diagnosing coronary artery disease.     

Carotid atherosclerosis is correlated with extent and severity of coronary artery disease evaluated by myocardial perfusion scintigraphy

Increased intima-media thickness (IMT) in the common carotid artery (CCA) correlates with conventional risk factors for cardiovascular disease and is an independent predictor of cardiac events. However, correlation between IMT and degree of ischemic heart disease evaluated by coronary angiogram is weak. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between measures of carotid atherosclerosis and the extent and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in 111 consecutive patients (60 men and 51 women, mean age 60 years) with known or suspected CAD who were investigated with adenosine-stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. Common carotid artery lumen diameter (LD) and IMT of the carotid bulb and distal CCA were measured with ultrasound, and CCA cross-sectional intima-media area (CIMA) was calculated. Seventy-two of 110 patients (65%) had significant perfusion defects. Increasing carotid plaque occurrence (absence, unilateral or bilateral occurrence) correlated with more advanced CAD (p<0.01). The extent and severity of myocardial hypoperfusion correlated significantly with presence of carotid plaque (r=0.23 and 0.24 respectively, p<0.05), CIMA (r=0.23 and 0.22, p<0.05), and LD (r<0.26 and 0.25, p<0.01) but not with IMT. In contrast to CIMA, LD failed to show an independent relation to extent of CAD after adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index. In conclusion, in subjects with intermediate to high risk of ischemic heart disease, occurrence of carotid plaques and increased cross-sectional intimamedia area in the common carotid artery are the best parameters for predicting CAD expressed as myocardial hypoperfusion.     

Correlations between measures of atherosclerosis change using carotid ultrasonography and coronary angiography

Few studies have examined the correlation between change in carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and change in coronary artery disease. In the Cholesterol Lowering Atherosclerosis Study, current nonsmoking men with coronary artery disease were randomized to colestipol-niacin or placebo. Among 133 subjects with baseline and on-trial coronary angiography and carotid ultrasonography, colestipol-niacin treatment significantly reduced progression of atherosclerosis by both end point measures (2-year average change in percent diameter stenosis by coronary angiography and rate of change in carotid IMT). Significant correlations between change in common carotid artery IMT and quantitative coronary angiographic measures of change were evident over all coronary artery lesions, and in mild/moderate (<50% diameter stenosis), but not severe (≥50% diameter stenosis) coronary artery lesions. In mild/moderate lesions, correlations with change in common carotid IMT were: percent diameter stenosis (r=0.28, P=0.002), minimum lumen diameter (r=−0.28, P=0.002), and vessel edge roughness (r=0.25, P=0.003). While measures obtained by carotid ultrasonography and coronary angiography are correlated, they each assess different aspects of atherosclerosis change.     

冠心病患者颈动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉造影的关系

目的评价颈动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉性心脏病(冠心病)的关系。方法对冠状动脉造影证实的冠心病患者153例(冠心病组)和非冠心病者(正常组)42例进行双侧颈动脉超声检查,测定血管后壁内膜-中膜厚度(inteima-media thickness,IMT),记录斑块数目,并计算斑块积分,同时冠心病组按血管狭窄累及主要病变血管支数分为单支病变亚组(63例)、双支病变亚组(49例)、3支病变亚组(41例)。结果冠心病组斑块发生率[68%(104/153) vs.11.9%(5/42),P<0.05]、颈动脉IMT[(1.11±0.19)mm vs.(0.82±0.06)mm,P<0.05]、斑块积分[(5.03±3.33)分vs.(1.11±0.75)分,P<0.05]和Gensini评分[(21.7±10.3)分vs.(0.0±0.0)分,P<0.05]比正常组高,差异有统计学意义。冠心病3支病变亚组和双支病变亚组斑块发生率、颈动脉IMT、斑块积分和Gensini评分均比单支病变亚组高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。冠心病、原发性高血压、糖尿病、低密度脂蛋白、吸烟、肥胖与颈动脉IMT呈显著正相关(P<0.05)。结...     

The correlation of irregularities in carotid arterial intima-media thickness with coronary artery disease

Noninvasive ultrasonographic assessment of carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) can improve risk stratification for coronary artery disease (CAD) in certain patients. Several measurements have been used to evaluate carotid atherosclerosis by ultrasonography. Although it has been reported that angiographic arterial irregularities correlate with pathologic changes of atherosclerosis and the occurrence of cardiovascular events, only a few studies have assessed carotid arterial wall irregularity by ultrasonography. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the irregularity of IMT quantitatively, and its association with the presence or absence of CAD. The correlation of maximum and mean IMT values, and IMT irregularity with the presence or absence of CAD, was investigated in 90 patients who had undergone coronary angiography. IMT was measured by manual tracking of the far wall of the common carotid arteries, carotid bulbs, and internal carotid arteries. The IMT irregularity was defined as the root mean square (RMS) difference between each IMT and averaged IMT. Multiple logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for coronary risk factors, indicated that the RMS difference was a more accurate predictor of CAD than were the mean or maximum IMT values. These results indicate that the evaluation of IMT irregularity by ultrasonography is a useful predictor for the presence of coronary atherosclerosis. Received: March 13, 2002 / Accepted: June 15, 2002 Acknowledgment We are grateful to Hitachi Medical Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, for the computer software used for ultrasonographic measurement of intima-media thickness. Correspondence to T. Ishimitsu     

A novel apoA-I mutation (L178P) leads to endothelial dysfunction, increased arterial wall thickness, and premature coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the consequences of an apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) gene defect with regard to lipid metabolism, endothelial function, arterial wall thickness, and coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. BACKGROUND: Due to limited numbers of carriers of the apoA-I defects, data on the consequences of such defects have remained inconclusive. METHODS: Lipids and lipoproteins were measured in 54 apoA-I (L178P) carriers and 147 nonaffected siblings. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was assessed in 29 carriers and 45 noncarriers, and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) could be determined in 33 heterozygotes and 40 controls. Moreover, CAD risk was evaluated for all apoA-I mutation carriers. RESULTS: Heterozygotes exhibited lower plasma levels of apoA-I (-50%; p < 0.0001) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-63%; p < 0.0001). In addition, carriers had impaired FMD (p = 0.012) and increased carotid IMT (p < 0.001), whereas multivariate analysis revealed that heterozygotes had a striking 24-fold increase in CAD risk (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Heterozygosity for a novel apoA-I mutation underlies a detrimental lipoprotein profile that is associated with endothelial dysfunction, accelerated carotid arterial wall thickening, and severely enhanced CAD risk. Importantly, the extent of atherosclerosis in these subjects was similar to the burden of premature arterial wall abnormalities seen in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. These data illustrate the pivotal role in humans of apoA-I in the protection against CAD.     

冠心病病人冠状动脉与颈动脉粥样硬化相关分析

目的 探讨冠心病病人颈动脉与冠状动脉粥样硬化的关系。方法 冠心病病人122例，经冠状动脉造影确诊，用颈动脉超声检测颈动脉内膜-中膜厚度（intima-media thickness，IMT）及粥样硬化程度。结果 病人病变冠状动脉支数分组间，IMT、颈动脉斑块积分和斑块发生率的差异有统计学意义。冠状动脉病变支数与IMT相关（r=0.73），与颈动脉斑块积分相关（r=0.67）。冠状动脉造影积分与IMT相关（r=0.69），与颈动脉斑块积分相关（r=0.68）。结论 冠心病病人颈动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉粥样硬化呈正相关，颈动脉病变可间接反映冠状动脉粥样硬化病变程度。     

Morphologic rather than functional or mechanical sonographic parameters of the brachial artery are related to angiographically evident coronary atherosclerosis

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship among coronary atherosclerosis and functional, morphologic, and mechanical parameters assessed noninvasively within the brachial artery (BA). BACKGROUND: Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the BA, intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery, and distensibility of the aorta have been correlated with the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: The BA was examined with high-resolution ultrasound (13 MHz) in 117 male patients, in whom coronary angiography was performed. Coronary artery disease (> or =30% diameter stenosis in > or =1 major branch) was found in 84 patients, and 33 patients had smooth coronary arteries (non-CAD). Wall cross-sectional area (WCSA) was calculated from resting diameter and IMT. RESULTS: The BA-WCSA (5.3 +/- 1.5 mm(2) vs. 4.4 +/- 1.4 mm(2), p = 0.002) and IMT (0.37 +/- 0.07 mm vs. 0.31 +/- 0.07 mm, p < 0.001) were significantly greater in patients with CAD compared with non-CAD patients. Flow-mediated vasodilation and distensibility were similar among groups. Using logistic regression analyses adjusting for age, positive family history, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, FMD, and distensibility, only WCSA (p < 0.01) and IMT (p < 0.001) correlated independently with the presence of CAD. CONCLUSIONS: Morphologic but not functional and mechanical parameters of the BA are associated with the presence of CAD. Among BA sonographic parameters, IMT and WCSA seem to be the most accurate ones for the estimation of coronary atherosclerotic risk.     

Carotid artery atherosclerosis in type-2 diabetic and nondiabetic subjects with and without symptomatic coronary artery disease (The Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study)

Type-2 diabetes mellitus is associated with a 2- to 4-fold increase in the risk of clinical coronary artery disease (CAD). It has been suggested that diabetic subjects without clinical CAD should be treated as aggressively for cardiovascular risk factors as subjects with CAD. This would be warranted if diabetic subjects without clinical CAD would have accelerated CAD similar to that of nondiabetic subjects with symptomatic CAD. To assess this suggestion, we compared the intima-media wall thickness in the common carotid artery (CCA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) in 43 diabetic subjects with clinical CAD, 446 diabetic subjects without clinical CAD, 47 nondiabetic subjects with clinical CAD, and 975 nondiabetic subjects without clinical CAD (all aged 40 to 70 years) in the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study. All data were adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity, and clinical results. Both diabetes and CAD were associated with increased atherosclerosis in the CCA. Likewise, diabetes was significantly associated with increased atherosclerosis in the ICA; however, CAD was not associated with ICA intima-media wall thickness. As expected, diabetic subjects with CAD had the greatest intima-media wall thickness, whereas nondiabetic subjects without CAD had the least atherosclerosis. Subjects with diabetes but without CAD had slightly greater intima-media wall thickness than nondiabetic subjects with CAD, although these differences were not statistically significant. Thus, diabetic subjects even without CAD had extensive atherosclerosis in the carotid artery. These results support the suggestion that diabetic subjects should be treated as aggressively for cardiovascular risk factor management as subjects with pre-existing CAD.     

The presence of a calcific plaque in the common carotid artery as a predictor of coronary atherosclerosis

Many contradictory reports have been published investigating the relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD) and the increased intima-media thickness (IMT) in the common carotid artery (CCA). However, only a limited number of studies evaluate the relationship between CAD and CCA disease as reflected by both the plaque morphology (fibrous and calcific plaques) and IMT. We have studied the associations between CAD and the wall morphology of CCA by B-mode ultrasound (US). One hundred and forty-four subjects, whose angiography was planned on the basis of suspected CAD, were included into the study. The patients were divided into 4 groups on the basis of B-mode US findings; Group I: normal, Group II: increased IMT (IMT >/= 0.8 mm and plaque absent), Group III: fibrous plaque, Group IV: calcific plaque. Coronary artery disease was diagnosed in 63 patients. A statistically significant correlation was found between CAD and CCA wall morphology (r =0.42, CI (95%) = 0.30-0.51, p<0.001). Positive predictive values were 45.0%, 48.4%, and 75.0% in patients with increased IMT, fibrous plaque, and calcific plaque, respectively. None of the women with normal CCA wall morphology had significant coronary artery lesion. With respect to the normal group, the risk for CAD increased by 4.3 fold with the existence of fibrous plaque (p=0.02) and by 9.9 fold with the existence of calcific plaque (p<0.001). It has been shown that the CCA wall morphology determined by B-mode US is correlated with CAD in patients with chest pain, and the presence of calcific plaque is a better predictor for CAD than that of fibrous plaque and increased IMT. Women with chest pain and normal CCA wall morphology may not need coronary angiography.     

Association of carotid intima-media thickness with angiographic severity and extent of coronary artery disease

The present study examined the association between carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and severity and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD). B-mode ultrasound and quantitative coronary angiography were used to assess carotid and coronary artery atherosclerosis in 108 patients with known or suspected CAD who had been referred for cardiac catheterization. Maximum and mean IMT values of carotid arteries were measured and expressed as mean aggregate values. To evaluate anatomic severity and extent of CAD, several quantitative coronary angiographically derived parameters were incorporated into indexes. These quantitative coronary angiographic measurements reflected CAD severity, extent, and overall "atheroma burden" and were calculated for the entire coronary tree and separately for different coronary segments (i.e., left main, proximal, mid, and distal segments). Maximum and mean IMT values were significantly correlated with CAD severity (p = 0.004 and 0.005, respectively), extent (p = 0.022 and 0.016, respectively), and atheroma burden (p = 0.008 for the 2 values). Further, carotid IMT was correlated with quantitative angiographic indexes for mid and distal segments but not with the proximal segments of coronary vessels. In conclusion, our study shows an association between carotid IMT and severity and extent of CAD as assessed by quantitative coronary angiography. Carotid IMT seems to be a weaker predictor of coronary atherosclerosis in the proximal parts of the coronary tree than in the mid and distal parts.