Association of carotid intima-media thickness with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease

Abstract

Objectives: To examine, prospectively, whether the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery and the overlying plaque predicts the presence and severity of coronary artery events. Methods: Two hundred and one consecutive patients (100 men and 101 women), who had recently undergone coronary angiography in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, were enrolled in the study carried out from May 2004 to May 2005. Measurements of IMT were performed by ultrasound, while blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels were recorded. Results: The mean IMT of the common carotid artery was significantly higher in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) compared with non-CAD patients, as well as in patients with significant CAD compared to nonsignificant CAD in both genders. The same was observed for the plaque area. Clinical systolic blood pressure, clinical diastolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol did not significantly differ between the 3 groups. Fasting blood sugar was higher in the non-significant CAD patients. Conclusion: The IMT of the common carotid artery is a clinically valuable parameter in the non-invasive diagnosis of non-significant CAD, as well as significant coronary artery lesions.