Hish-resolution ultrasound evaluation of relation between the carotid atherosclerosis and the severity of coronary artery lesions

Objectives To study the intima-media thickness(IMT) and atherosclerotic plaques of carotid artery in healthy person and patients with coronary heart disease(CHD).To analyse the correlation between the coronary artery atherosclerosis and peripheral artery atherosclerosis.Methods 428 normal volunteers and 89 patients with CHD were enrolled in this study.All of the patients had accepted coronary angiography and the diagnoses of CHD were confirmed.The IMT and atherosclerotic plaques of carotid artery were measured by high resolution ultrasound technique.Results IMT of carotid artery was 1.19±0.14 mm in patients with CHD and was 0.92±(0.13) mm in healthy persons,P0.01.The rates of detection of IMT thickening and plaques in patient group were(43.21%) and 74.65%,but in normal subjects were 14.49% and 34.35% respectively,P(0.01.) IMT was 1.00±0.014 mm and rate of detection of plaques was 42.86% in 1 branch coronary artery lesions group.In 2 branch coronary artery lesions group,IMT and rate of detection of plaques were 1.15±(0.018) mm and 65.52% and in 3 branch lesions group,they were 1.31±0.018 mm and 74.49% respectively,P(0.01.)Conclusion IMT of carotid artery was significantly thicker in patients with CHD than in healthy persons.The rate of detection of plaques was significantly increased in the patients with CHD.IMT and atherosclerotic plaques of carotid artery were positively correlated to the severity of coronary artery lesions in patients with CHD.