Carotid artery intima-media thickness could predict the presence of coronary artery lesions

Am J Hypertens. 2005 May;18(5 Pt 1):601-6. doi: 10.1016/j.amjhyper.2004.11.019.

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether intima-media thickness (IMT) predicts the presence of the coronary artery lesions independent of other risk factors including clinic blood pressure (BP), parameters of 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring, body mass index, serum cholesterol, and glucose levels. The study population consisted of 390 consecutive subjects who had recently undergone coronary arteriography; 51 subjects with no measurable lesions in their coronary arteries (control group) and 339 subjects with coronary artery lesions (coronary artery disease [CAD] group). Mean IMT of the common carotid artery (MCCA) and internal carotid artery (MICA) were significantly higher in subjects with CAD compare control subjects (P < .0001). Carotid IMT could predict the presence of coronary artery lesions independently of clinic or ambulatory BP values, BMI, serum cholesterol, and glucose levels (P < .01). Carotid IMT predicted the presence of significant coronary artery lesions with cutoff values 0.85 and 0.80 for MICA and MCCA, respectively. The IMT could be a clinical useful test for the presence of significant coronary artery lesions.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory
  • Body Mass Index
  • Carotid Arteries / pathology*
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / etiology
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Tunica Intima / pathology*