Intima-media thickness is a useful marker of the extent of coronary artery disease in patients with impaired renal function

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was the assessment of intima-media thickness (IMT) in peripheral arteries (the carotid and the femoral artery) and its correlation with the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD). The second task was the analysis of the renal function's influence within IMT complex.Methods231 patients (men, mean age 52.8), who had undergone coronary angiography due to symptoms of CAD were enrolled. The ultrasound measurement of IMT in the common carotid artery (CCA), carotid bulb and common femoral artery (CFA) was performed. The relationship between IMT, renal function and the extent of CAD was evaluated.ResultsSignificantly higher values of IMT in the peripheral arteries were observed in patients with CAD than in those without (CCA—0.91 vs 0.61 mm, carotid bulb—1.31 vs 0.67, CFA—1.38 vs 0.63 respectively, p < 0.0001). The GFR values in the CAD patients significantly negatively correlated with IMT complex in CCA (p < 0.001) and carotid bulb (p < 0.05). Lower values of GFR in patients with three-vessel disease were observed than in those patients with one- or two-vessel disease (p < 0.05). In multifactoral analysis (post-hoc NIR test) we found that glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is strongly determined by age (p < 0.0001), BMI (p < 0.0001), value of carotid intima-media thickness (p < 0.001), value of IMT in the carotid bulb (p < 0.02) and the treatment with ACE-I (p < 0.05). In multifactoral analysis we did not find any statistical influence of lipid profile and glucose disturbances on GFR.ConclusionsHigher peripheral artery IMTs in patients with CAD than in those without and patients with three-vessel disease indicate that IMT may be used as an early marker of atherosclerosis and reflect the severity of CAD. A significant negative correlation between the value of a GFR and the IMT confirmed the usefulness of this noninvasive method for the estimation of preclinical stages of atherosclerotic changes’ development in patients with impaired renal function.     

Ultrasound screening of multifocal atherosclerosis: markers for coronary heart disease

Background and Objective The frequency of multifocal atherosclerosis (MFA) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) has not been thoroughly studied. The purpose of our study was to perform ultrasound screening for MFA in patients with coronary atherosclerosis and make evaluation of the sensitivity and significance of different atherosclerosis markers. Methods Using Color Dupplex Ultrasound (CDU), we studied 32 clinically healthy persons and 87 patients of the city of B with clinical data for CHD where we also performed coronarography. Results In patients with coronary atherosclerosis we found high frequency of carotid atherosclerosis (93%) and peripheral artery disease (PAD) (81%). We established verifiable thickening of the intima-media (IMT) of the common carotid artery (CCA) and common femoral artery (CFA) in patients with CHD. There is a correlation between the frequency of carotid and femoral stenoses and CHD proven by coronarography. Patients with CHD had a high relative risk to develop carotid (RR = 5) and peripheral atherosclerosis (RR=3.5) and high frequency of asymptomatic stenoses and thromboses of the internal carotid artery (86.9%) and femoral artery (78.3%), as well as aneurisms of the abdominal aorta (8.1%). Markers for CAD with high sensitivity were the atherosclerotic plaques of ICA (0.93) and CFA (0.81) as well as IMT of the CFA (0.84). Conclusions MFA are common among patients with CHD. Ultrasound diagnosis is the method of choice for simultaneous non-invasive screening of carotid, peripheral and MFA and provides sensitive markers for coronary atherosclerosis. The most sensitive and specific markers for CHD are the combination of the IMT and atherosclerotic plaques of CCA, ICA and CFA (100% sensitivity and 0.92 specificity).     

外周动脉粥样硬化与冠心病的相关性研究

目的探讨外周动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉粥样硬化的关系及预测价值。方法对74例可疑冠心病患者行冠状动脉造影,其中确诊冠心病57例,正常17例。同时进行颈动脉、股动脉超声检查,对各动脉内膜中层厚度(IMT)、粥样硬化斑块及心血管危险因素同冠状动脉造影结果进行统计分析。依据修正的Gensin评分系统将冠状动脉积分,并以积分的大小进行等级评分,同时对外周动脉斑块对冠脉的预测价值、外周动脉IMT与冠脉积分的对数值进行相关性分析、冠心病组和正常组的危险因素之间进行统计分析。结果冠脉造影阳性组CA、FA的IMT和粥样硬化斑块发生率高于阴性组(P<0.05),颈动脉、股动脉粥样硬化对冠心病的阳性预测值分别为59.4%和53.1%,两处为阳性的阳性预测值是71.9%。颈动脉IMT与冠心病的log(Gensin评分)之间相关系数为0.891,股动脉IMT与冠心病的(Gensin评分)之间相关系数为0.75。结论外周动脉的粥样硬化是冠心病的相关因素,可作为研究冠状动脉粥样硬化的间接指标和窗口。     

老年患者颈动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉病变的相关性

目的　评价老年患者颈动脉与冠状动脉粥样硬化的相关性。方法　对 81例接受冠状动脉造影检查的老年患者进行颈动脉超声检测。结果　冠心病患者颈动脉内膜中层厚度 (IMT)值较对照组明显增大。随冠状动脉病变加重 ,斑块的严重程度增加 ,内膜中层厚度呈增厚趋势。颈总动脉IMT与改良Gensini评分呈正相关。结论　老年患者颈动脉与冠脉粥样硬化之间存在较密切的联系     

Association between hemodynamics in the common carotid artery and severity of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with essential hypertension

BACKGROUND: Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque burden evaluated by B-mode ultrasound have been used as relevant indicators for carotid atherosclerosis. This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between hemodynamic parameters in the common carotid artery (CCA) and the severity of carotid atherosclerosis in untreated hypertensive patients. METHODS: Carotid IMT and plaque burden were evaluated in bilateral CCA, bifurcations, external and internal carotid arteries using duplex ultrasound in 80 untreated hypertensive patients. The patients were divided into four groups according to plaque burden. Hemodynamic parameters of CCA, including peak and mean circumferential wall tension (CWT), tensile stress (TS), wall shear stress (WSS), and Young's elastic modulus (YEM), were calculated after measurements of internal diameter (ID), IMT, and peak and mean flow velocities of CCA. Arterial stiffness was also assessed using the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). RESULTS: Age, pulse pressure, creatinine, carotid IMT, and mean TS were shown to have significant differences among the four plaque groups (P < 0.05). Peak CWT and peak TS were also shown to have marginal differences. In univariate analysis, the peak and mean CWT and TS were significantly correlated with plaque score. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that carotid IMT, age, and peak CWT were independently associated with plaque score. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the CWT and TS of the CCA are associated with the severity of carotid atherosclerosis in untreated hypertensive patients. Hence, the hemodynamics of vessels may contribute to the plaque burden of low-resistance arteries.     

The role of ultrasonography of the peripheral arteries in diagnosing coronary artery disease

Atherosclerosis develops simultaneously in multiple arterial beds, that creates opportunity to diagnose of coronary artery disease. Aim of the study was the evaluation of association between atherosclerotic involvement of peripheral arteries assessed by ultrasound and significant coronary artery disease revealed by angiography. Study included 410 patients, (73% males), mean age 56.0 +/- 9.5 year scheduled for coronary angiography. During ultrasound examination of common carotid and common femoral arteries arterial wall intima-media (IMT) thickness and atherosclerotic plaques presence were assessed. Significant coronary artery disease (CAD) was diagnosed with coronary angiography as diameter stenosis > 50%. Intimo-media thickness (IMT) of common carotid arteries did not differ between groups with and without significant coronary artery disease (right 6.6 vs 6.4 mm, p = ns, left 6.9 vs 6.6 mm, p = ns) but in common femoral arterial was greater in patients with coronary artery disease (right 8.2 vs 7.1 mm, p < 0.005, left 7.9 vs 7.1 mm, p = 0.03). Atherosclerotic plaques in carotid and femoral arteries was detected more often in CAD patients (90.1% vs 34.6%, p < 0.0001). Positive predictive value for CAD diagnosis with detection of plaque in carotid or femoral artery was 93% and negative prognostic value for exclusion CAD after plaque exclusion in all arteries was 61%. Search for atherosclerotic plaques in ultrasound examination of peripheral arteries may facilitate CAD diagnosis in selected patients groups.     

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.     

Coronary and peripheral artery remodeling in patients undergoing PTCA: An intracoronary and transcutaneous ultrasound study.

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the plaque burden of nonstenotic coronary artery segments and the wall thickness of peripheral arteries using intracoronary and transcutaneous ultrasound imaging, respectively. Intracoronary ultrasound (CVIS, 3.5 Fr) was performed in 27 patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Carotid arteries were imaged by B-mode ultrasound with semiautomatic edge detection and radial arteries by high resolution A-mode echotracking (NIUS 2). Quantitative measurements included coronary artery intima-media cross-sectional area (IM(CSA)) and cross-sectional narrowing (CSN), as well as intima-media thickness (IMT) and lumen radius (r) of the common carotid and the radial arteries. Intima-media thickness was increased in coronary, carotid, and radial arteries. Coronary arteries had an IM(CSA) of 7.7 +/- 2.5 mm(2) and a CSN of 24% +/- 8%. Despite this moderate plaque burden, lumen area was preserved (12.3 +/- 4.2 mm(2)) because of compensatory enlargement of coronary arteries. Right and left carotid and right radial arteries had an IMT of 575 +/- 78 microm, 570 +/- 129 microm, and 328 +/- 61 microm, respectively. There was no correlation between coronary IM(CSA) and carotid IMT (r = 0.07) or radial IMT (r = 0.02), and there was no correlation between coronary CSN and carotid IMT/r (r = 0.12), or radial IMT/r (r = 0.25). In conclusion, in these patients with symptomatic ischemic disease no relationship between IMT of the coronary arteries and IMT of carotid or radial arteries was found. Although increasingly popular, IMT of peripheral arteries may be of limited value as surrogate marker for the severity of coronary artery disease. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 48:12-17, 1999.     

A dietary and exercise intervention slows menopause-associated progression of subclinical atherosclerosis as measured by intima-media thickness of the carotid arteries

OBJECTIVES: The object of this study was to assess the effects of menopause and a diet/exercise intervention on subclinical atherosclerosis progression. BACKGROUND: Subclinical atherosclerosis has been linked to higher coronary heart disease and stroke rates and is greater among postmenopausal women according to cross-sectional analyses. Whether menopause is associated with an accelerated progression of subclinical disease is unknown, as is the extent to which lifestyle intervention can alter the course of progression. METHODS: Intima-media thickness (IMT) measures of the common carotid artery (CCA), internal carotid artery (ICA), and bulb segments of the carotid arteries were measured twice during the course of 4 years in 353 women from the Women's Healthy Lifestyle Project, a dietary and exercise clinical trial designed to prevent adverse risk factor changes through the menopause. A third measure was obtained 2.5 years later for 113 women. RESULTS: The progression of IMT was observed for the average of all segments (AVG), the CCA, and the bulb (0.007 mm/year, 0.008 mm/year, and 0.012 mm/year; p < 0.01 for all), but not for the ICA. Among controls, menopause was associated with accelerated IMT progression (0.003 mm/year for premenopausal women vs. 0.008 mm/year for perimenopausal/postmenopausal women for AVG IMT; p = 0.049). Additionally, among the 160 perimenopausal/postmenopausal women, the intervention slowed IMT progression (0.008 mm/year for the control group vs. 0.004 mm/year for the intervention group for AVG IMT; p = 0.02). Similar results were found for the CCA and bulb segments. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that the menopause transition is associated with accelerated subclinical atherosclerosis progression and that a diet/exercise intervention slows menopause-related atherosclerosis progression.     

冠心病患者冠状动脉粥样硬化程度与颈动脉粥样硬化的相关性研究

目的 探讨冠心病患者颈动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉硬化程度之间的关系.方法 选取2012年1月至2013年6月河北大学附属医院心内科治疗的冠心病患者350例,依据冠状动脉造影结果将患者分为冠心病组和非冠心病组,其中冠心病组260例,非冠心病组90例;依据造影结果将冠心病组患者进行再次分组,其中单支病变组113例,双支病变组89例,三支病变组58例.比较冠心病组及非冠心病组间及不同冠状动脉病变支数三组间的颈动脉内-中膜厚度（IMT）、斑块积分及Gensini评分;统计分析冠状动脉病变支数与以上观察指标的相关性.结果 冠心病组的颈动脉IMT、斑块积分、Gensini积分分别为（1.37±0.23）、（5.37±3.98）、（23.32±7.33）,均高于非冠心病组,两组间比较差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）.双支病变组和三支病变组的斑块检出率为79.8％和81.0％,双支病变组及三支病变组患者颈动脉IMT分别为（1.31±0.21）mm和（1.37±0.27）mm,双支病变组和三支病变组患者的斑块检出率与颈动脉IMT值均高于单支病变组,三组间比较差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）.冠状动脉病变支数与IMT、颈动脉斑块积分呈显著正相关;Gensini评分与IMT及颈动脉斑块积分呈显著正相关.结论 冠状动脉的粥样硬化程度随着患者的颈动脉粥样硬化程度的升高而加重,冠心病的严重程度可以通过颈动脉超声检测反映出来.     

Carotid plaque compared with intima-media thickness as a predictor of coronary and cerebrovascular disease

Atherosclerosis is the underlying cause of most myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemic strokes. B-mode ultrasound of carotid arteries provides measures of intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaques, both widely used as surrogate measures of cardiovascular disease. Although IMT and plaques are highly inter-correlated, IMT’s role as a marker of atherosclerosis has been questioned, especially when measurements include the common carotid artery (CCA) only. Plaque and intima-media thickening may reflect different biological aspects of atherogenesis with distinctive relations to clinical vascular disease. Plaque measured in the carotid bulb or internal carotid artery is stronger related to hyperlipidemia and smoking and is a stronger predictor for MI, whereas CCA-IMT is stronger related to hypertension and ischemic stroke. Echolucent plaque morphology (ie, lipid-rich plaques) seems to increase the risk for MI and stroke. New evidence suggests that total plaque area is the most strongly predictive of cardiovascular risk of the ultrasound phenotypes.     

超声技术综合评价颈动脉粥样硬化与冠心病病变程度的相关性研究

目的应用超声技术综合评价颈动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病(冠心病)病变程度的相关性。方法选取颈动脉斑块患者268例,根据其是否患有冠心病,分为冠心病组和非冠心病组,其中冠心病组患者147例,非冠心病组患者121例。超声测量颈动脉内中膜厚度(IMT)、利用血管斑块定量分析(VPQ)软件自动获取颈动脉斑块的相关参数。统计两组性别、吸烟史、糖尿病史及高血压病史等基本资料及颈动脉斑块相关超声参数,分析颈动脉粥样硬化相关参数与冠状动脉(冠脉)病变程度的相关性。结果冠心病组患者颈动脉斑块的GSM值、IMT值与非冠心病组差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);血总胆固醇、三酰甘油、低密度脂蛋白在两组间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),且冠心病组高于非冠心病组;进一步分析显示随着冠脉病变累及支数及Gensini积分的增加,IMT与之呈正相关,而GSM呈负相关。冠心病-非冠心病组间患者的年龄、性别、吸烟史、糖尿病史、高血压病史、高密度脂蛋白、斑块厚度、斑块体积、血管腔面积、管壁面积、标准化管壁指数等斑块其它参数比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论利用超声技术对颈动脉粥样硬化相关参数定量分析,在冠心病病变程度的临床预测中具有一定参考价值。     

超声检测股动脉、腹主动脉及颈动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉粥样硬化的相关性

目的:探讨股动脉、腹主动脉及颈动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉粥样硬化的相关性。方法: 采用高频超声测量109例行冠状动脉造影术后1周的患者股动脉、腹主动脉及颈动脉的内-中膜厚度（IMT）、斑块积分及斑块数目。结果: 股动脉、腹主动脉及颈动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉粥样硬化呈正相关（P<0.01、P<0.05）;股动脉斑块预测冠状动脉粥样硬化的灵敏度为89%,特异度为77%,准确度84%;腹主动脉斑块预测冠状动脉粥样硬化的灵敏度为73%,特异度为72%,准确度72%;颈动脉斑块预测冠状动脉粥样硬化的灵敏度为83%,特异度为79%,准确度82%。结论: 超声检查股动脉、腹主动脉及颈动脉IMT及斑块可间接预测不同程度的冠状动脉粥样硬化;股动脉的灵敏度与准确度较腹主动脉更好。     

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。     

Data density curves of B-mode ultrasound arterial wall thickness measurements in unaffected control and at-risk populations.

AIM: Atherosclerosis is a slow disease process of arterial walls with onset decades prior to its clinical manifestations. Lifelong follow-up data may help to identify and understand the pathophysiology of this process. These longitudinal data are scarce. Using a standardized imaging and image analysis protocol, we acquired cross-sectional data of carotid and femoral arterial wall segments in populations at different cardiovascular disease risk. METHODS: B-mode ultrasound intima-media thickness (IMT) data of carotid and femoral arteries were acquired in individuals at high cardiovascular disease risk: 44 young adolescents with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), 248 adult FH patients and 184 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), as well as in disease free unaffected individuals, 44 young adolescents, 26 middle-aged adults and 48 senior adults. RESULTS: Per patient combined average IMT (SD) and % of lesions in the high risk populations were 0.55 (0.05) mm, 0.1%, 0.86 (0.18) mm, 15%, and 0.9 (0.18) mm, 18%, respectively. In the unaffected groups these values were 0.53 (0.03) mm, 0%, 0.59 (0.07) mm, 0%, and 0.77 (0.12) mm, 8%. Of all arterial segments, the far wall of the common femoral artery (CFA) of the FH patients exhibited the highest absolute IMT (1.12 [0.61] mm), the most rapid estimated IMT increase since adolescence (+0.58 mm) and the highest percentage of lesions (39% of CFA measurements). CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of location, carotid and femoral arterial walls increase in thickness with age and cardiovascular disease risk. This increase in thickness and prevalence of lesions is not similarly distributed among anatomical segments. The strong preponderance in arterial wall segments with the highest estimated atherosclerosis progression indicates the existence of a threshold value beyond which plaque formation is greatly increased. In the set of arterial locations we studied, this process might be best represented by the far wall of the CFA.     

颈动脉多普勒超声与心绞痛患者冠状动脉病变的关系

目的采用彩色多普勒超声仪分析心绞痛患者颈动脉病变,探讨其在冠状动脉病变中的临床诊断价值。方法选择因心绞痛行冠状动脉造影的住院患者328例,根据冠状动脉造影结果分为4组:对照组(80例)、单支病变组(102例)、2支病变组(62例)和多支病变组(84例)。用彩色多普勒超声仪测量颈总动脉内膜中层厚度(intimamediathickness,IMT)及颈动脉分叉处IMT,记录颈动脉斑块的位置、数量。结果与对照组比较,2支病变组分叉处IMT和斑块积分明显增高,多支病变组颈总动脉IMT、分叉处IMT和斑块积分明显增高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05,P0.01)。与对照组比较,多支病变组颈总动脉IMT增厚比例明显增高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);与单支病变组比较,多支病变组颈总动脉IMT增厚比例明显增高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。糖尿病是冠状动脉病变的主要危险因素(OR=2.8,95% CI:1.18～6.63)。结论颈动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉病变有相关性,采用彩色多普勒超声分析颈动脉病变情况,对冠心病患者具有较好的筛查及预测价值。     

Ultrasound Examination of Carotid Arteries with Intima Media Measurement: An Underestimated Tool in the Diagnosis of Takayasu's Disease

The diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis is often clinically difficult. The ultrasound examination of the arteries originating from the aortic arch, especially with the assessment of intima media thickness of common carotid arteries, is easily available and can add valuable information. Eighteen patients, 16 women and 2 men, aged 11–62, with established diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis and 17 age- and sex-matched controls were examined using duplex color doppler ultrasound. The flow in subclavian, common, internal, external carotid and vertebral arteries was visualized. The mean intima media thickness of the common carotid arteries proximal to the bulb (CCA) and in the carotid bulb were measured in different planes, off-line from digitized images by a single reader, helped by a computerized system for averaging and analysis. A total occlusion of left common carotid arteries in three patients and right CCA in one patient was detected. An occlusion of the brachiocephalic trunk was found in one patient and significant narrowing found in two others. A significant (>-50%) stenosis or occlusion of at least one subclavian artery was present in a majority of patients (87%), with a predilection for the left subclavian artery. In 5 patients, a steal syndrome grade II or III was found in the vertebral arteries. The value of the mean IMT of the CCA is patients with Takayasu's disease was significantly higher than in controls (mean ± SEM; 1.1 ± 0.1 vs 0.59 ± 0.01 mm). In healthy controls, the intima media thickness of the bulb was higher than that in the CCA (0.7 ± 0.03 vs 0.59 ± 0.01 mm). In patients with Takayasu's disease, that proportion was inversed (0.81 ± 0.05 vs 1.1 ± 0.1 mm). Higher intima media thickness found in the common carotid artery than in the bulb can rise a suspicion of Takayasu's arteritis.     

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.     

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.     

超声测量颈动脉内膜中层厚度与颈动脉斑块的关系

为了探讨颈动脉内膜中层厚度与局限性颈动脉斑块的联系 ,对 91名受试对象的颈总动脉内膜中层厚度及颈内动脉和颈动脉分叉处的斑块进行超声检测 ,并将颈动脉内膜中层厚度进行分级。结果观察到有斑块者较无斑块者其颈动脉内膜中层厚度明显增加 ( 0 .83± 0 .16mm比 0 .6 4± 0 .12mm ,P <0 .0 1) ,且随斑块的严重程度增加 ,其内膜中层厚度呈增厚趋势。该结果支持颈总动脉内膜中层厚度与颈动脉局限性动脉粥样硬化斑块明显相关 ,提示颈动脉内膜中层厚度增厚可能是颈动脉粥样硬化的早期表现