Correlation between 64-slice CT angiography and conventional coronary angiography

64-slice CT coronary angiography is now available as a valuable technology in evaluating patients, both with and without symptoms for the detection of coronary lesions and in making decision whether or not further invasive testing is needed. The aim of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of 64-slice CT angiography for detection of significant coronary artery stenoses in comparison with conventional coronary angiography. During a period of 20 months [April 2007-November 2008] we studied 565 patients with 64-slice CT angiography of coronary arteries who fulfilled following criteria; having a positive stress test such as thallium-scan or stress echocardiography if symptomatic, sinus heart rhythm and able to hold breath for 15 seconds. We scheduled coronary angiography for 58 of these patients with mean age of 52 +/- 10.5 years [37 men and 21 women] who have one or more significant stenoses of coronary arteries. A significant lesion was assumed if the diameter reduction of vessel was = 50%. The overall sensitivity and specificity of 64-slice CT for detection of significant coronary artery stenoses in this study were 95% and 94% respectively. The positive predictive value was 85% and negative predictive value was 94%. We found that 64-slice CT correctly identified all patients with three vessel disease. This technique was reliable to classify 90% of patients [52/58] as having one, two or three vessel disease correctly. In conclusion 64-slice CT coronary angiography has a high degree of both sensitivity and specificity in detection of significant coronary artery stenoses

Prevalence of renal artery stenosis and it's predictors in patients undergoing coronary angiography

Renal artery stenosis]RAS[is a frequent finding in patients with CAD. Although the prevalence of RAS in Europe and America has been reported as high as 13.5-18% in patients with suspected coronary artery disease, there is limited information about the prevalence of this disease in IRAN. To evaluate the prevalence of RAS in Iranian patients suspected of cardiovascular disease and the relationships among the vascular risk factors, renal angiography was performed in 301 patients receiving diagnostic coronary angiography, in Lalch Pars and Sasan hospitals during 10 months from Deceniber, 2006 to October 2007. RAS with stenosis diameter equal or more than 70% was considered significant. The prevalence of significant RAS was 6%]l8/301[including 15%]5[cases of unilateral stenosis and 3%]1[of bilateral stenosis]. Among to the number of diseased coronary arteries, the prevalence of RAS was, 7%, 6%, 10% and 3% of 0, 1, 2 and 3-vessel disease respectively. Thus our study showed the RAS is not significantly common in patients with established CAD, except for in those with 2-vessel disease. The prevalence in patient with hypertension was 7% and 3% in normotensive patients. So our study showed that hypertension does not have a close relationship with RAS