The relationship between carotid artery atherosclerosis and coronary artery stenosis

Objective To discuss the relationship between the character and degree of carotid artery atherosclerosis pathological change and the extent of coronary artery.Methods Consecutive 265 patients who underwent coronary angiography were enrolled,and were given routinely carotid artery B mode ultrasound.The patients were divided into coronary heart disease group and control group according to coronary angiography results.And the coronary heart disease group was divided into 3 subsets according to the degree of coronary artery stenosis,including mild stenosis,moderate stenosis,and severe stenosis.Results In coronary artery stenosis group,the incidence of carotid artery atherosclerosis and intima lesion,the characteristic of plaque had statistical difference compared with control group(P0.01).Followed the aggravation of the degree of coronary artery stenosis,the carotid artery atherosclerosis plaque incidence was obviously increased(P0.01).Otherwise,the degree of coronary stenosis had positive correlation with the numbers,characters and intima thickness of carotid artery.Conclusion There was significant correlation between carotid atherosclerosis pathological change and coronary artery atherosclerosis.The carotid ultrasound examination could help to predict the stenosis of coronary artery.