Carotid atherosclerosis measured by external b-mode ultrasound versus coronary atherosclerosis measured by quantitative angiography and intravascular ultrasound

Introduction Autopsic studies have shown a strong relationship between carotid and coronary atherosclerosis (r<0.6). A weaker correlation (r<0.30 about) is detected when atherosclerosis of carotid and coronary arteries are measured by external B-mode ultrasound and by quantitative angiography (QA), respectively. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) allows the direct examination of the vessel wall in living humans. Material and Methods In the present study the correlation between carotid and coronary atherosclerosis was investigated by measuring carotid IMTmax by external B-mode ultrasound and coronary atherosclerosis by both QA and IVUS. Results 48 patients were recruited for the study. IMTmax measured in common, bulb and internal carotid arteries were 1.1±0.3 mm, 1.4±0.4. mm and 1.1±0.5 mm, respectively. Median percent of stenosis by QA was about 70% (interquartile range 30; 90%). Median value of coronary IMTMax was 0.7 mm (interquartile range 0.6;0.9 mm). Spearman correlations between carotid IMTmax and coronary variables are given below. Max Stenosis % (quantitative angiography) r p CC-IMTmax 0.23 ns Bulb-IMTmax 0.31 0.035 ICA-IMTmax 0.23 ns IMTmax 0.33 0.025 IMTMax (intravascular ultrasound) r p CC-IMTmax 0.45 0.002 Bulb-IMTmax 0.49 0.000 ICA-IMTmax 0.39 0.006 IMTmax 0.52 0.033 The correlation between carotid and coronary atherosclerosis is higher when coronary atherosclerosis is assessed by IVUS. Conclusions When correlation between carotid and coronary atherosclerosis is investigated by measuring homogeneous arterial wall parameters (IMT in both districts) the correlation coefficients reach values closer to the ones obtained in autopsic studies.