ABSTRACT
Objective To identify a subset of patients with high probability of extensive calcification for further intravascular ultrasound(IVUS)examination.Methods The incidence,extent and distribution of calcification in stenosis site assessed with IVUS and its correlation with age,gender and coronary risk factors were analyzed in 88 patients undergoing balloon angioplasty. Results ①The incidence of calcification in stenosis site was 38.6%,52.9% of which showed a superficial pattern and only 4.5% had extensive calcification0.②Age was the most influencing factor of calcification,and the incidence of calcification was remarkarbly higher in patinents≥60 years old than in those <60 years old(61.9% vs 17.4%,P<0.001).③Among patients <60 years old,patients with calcification had a higher score of risk factors than those without calcification,suggesting that the risk factors play an important role in calcification in these patients <60 years old.Conclusions This study indicates that pre-intervention IVUS examination may be necessary in patients≥60 years old and in those<60 years old but with more than two risk factors.