Value of Carotid Artery Intima-media Thickness and Cross-sectional Area in Prediction of Coronary Heart Disease

Objective To explore the relationship of carotid Intima-media thickness and cross-sectional area to coronary diseases(CD).Methods Eighty-one subjects receiving CD examination were divided,according to the results of coronary angiography,into groups CD(n=51) and control(n=30),and group CD subdivided,based on the number of involved coronary arteries,into groups 1-(n=10),2-(n=22),3-artery(n=19).Bilateral common carotid artery IMT,IMCSA were measured by ultrasound and analyzed in all cases.Results ITM,IMCSA of left common carotid artery were 0.92±0.15 mm,22.0±2.8 mm2,respectively,in CD group and 0.85±0.07 mm,18.4±2.1 mm2,respectively,in control groups,the difference was significant(P0.05).The incidence of bilateral common carotid artery plaque rose with the increase in number of injured coronary arteries(P0.01).Taking left common carotid artery IMT≥0.90 mm as the border,the sensitivity and specificity of predicting CHD were 64.7%,66.7%,respectively,and taking IMCSA≥20 mm2 as the border,were 80.4%,86.7%,respectively.Conclusion Detection of common carotid artery plaque,combined with left common carotid artery IMT and IMCSA(especially IMCSA),can be used as indicators for prediction of CHD and a screening method deciding whether coronary angiography is needed.