Relationship between Both Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque and the Intimia-Media Thickness with Coronary Artery Disease

Objective:To study the relationship between carotid artery intimia media thickness(IMT),atherosclerotic plaques,and coronary artery disease. Methods:Coronary artery ultrasonic examination was performed in 114 patients who had been consecutively examined by coronary artery angiography. Results:We found the IMT in control group and coronary artery disease group were 0 67±0 10 mm and 0 85±0 26 mm.,the prevanlence rate of atherosclerotic plaques were 10%(4/40)and 63.5%(47/74).There were significant differences between the two groups,P0 001. An IMT≥0 85 mm and/or the occurrence of atherosclerotic plaques could predict the presence of coronary artery disease with a specifity of 85%, a sensitivity of 71.6% and a positive predictive value of 89.8%. Conclution:There were close relationship between carotid and coronary artery atherosclerosis. Carotid ultrasounic examination could help to predict the presence of coronary artery disease.