Atherosclerosis Found on Carotid Ultrasonography Is Associated With Atherosclerosis on Coronary Intravascular Ultrasonography

Abstract

Objective Little has been reported on the relationship between left main coronary artery atherosclerosis and carotid ultrasonographic results. We evaluated the association between carotid and coronary atherosclerosis assessed by coronary intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) in 45 patients. Methods We counted the number of plaques with intima-media thickness (IMT) greater than or equal to 1.1 mm and calculated a plaque score by summing all plaque thicknesses. With the use of IVUS, the percent plaque area was calculated at the proximal, middle, and distal sites of the left main coronary artery. The maximum percent plaque area and mean percent plaque area of the 3 sites were also calculated. Relationships among the degree of left main coronary artery atherosclerosis and carotid atherosclerosis and vascular risk factors were evaluated. Results The mean percent plaque area and maximum percent plaque area were increased in men and in patients with hypertension compared with women and those without hypertension (P < .1). Both the average of the maximum common carotid IMT and plaque number were correlated with both the mean percent plaque area and maximum percent plaque area (P < .05). Men, the presence of hypertension, and the average of the maximum common carotid IMT were correlated with both the mean percent plaque area and maximum percent plaque area by multiple linear regression analysis (P < .05). Table 1. All Clinical and Carotid Ultrasonographic Parameters and Relationship With Mean and Maximum Percent Plaque Area in the Multivariate Analysis Mean %PA Max %PA Parameter β P β P Male 0.37 .005 0.35 .010 Hypertension 0.46 .003 0.36 .021 Max IMT-C avg 0.50 .006 0.51 .008 PN −0.24 .21 −0.21 .30 Max IMT-C avg indicates average maximum IMT of each side of the common carotid artery; Max %PA, maximum percent plaque area; Mean %PA, mean percent plaque area; and PN, plaque number. Conclusions The average of the maximum common carotid IMT was significantly correlated with left main coronary artery atherosclerosis evaluated by IVUS.