Duplex carotid ultrasonography in patients with ischemic heart disease

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to assess the the extracranial carotid arteries by a simple non invasive inexpensive repititlve tool to search for atherosclerotic changes and their correlation with similar ischemic coronary artery disease in similar age groups. The material of the study comprised 68 subjects: 53 patients with various types of ischemic heart disease and 15 subjects as a control group. Our results showed the following Significant positive correlation between all lipogram parameters including total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio hyperuriceamia and carotid atherosclerosis. Significant positive correlation between echocardiographic left atrial diameter, left ventricular hypertrophy and carotid atherosclerosis. Significant increase in carotid atherosclerosis in patients with transmural MI and non-Q wave MI when compared to those with stable and unstable angina. Carotid atherosclerosis is more in patients with stable angina than in those with unstable angina. The overall conclusion of the study is that, there is a close relationship between coronary and carotid atherosclerosis, both sharing more or less the same risk factors. The degree of carotid atherosclerosis can be used as a mirror for coronary atherosclerosis so it can be used as a non invasive procedure for assessment of patients prepared for coronary angiogram. Carotid atherosclerosis goes hand in hand with coronary atherosclerosis so, the incidence of carotid plaques or increase intima media thickness with subsequent transient ischemic attacks or other neurological events are more in patients with transmural MI than those with non Q-wave MI, and in the later than those with stable or unstable angina