Detection of silent arteriosclerotic lesions by intra-arterial ultrasonography.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to detect arteriosclerotic changes in the arterial wall at a preclinical stage. That is at a moment when these arteriosclerotic lesions are still fully asymptomatic and when the usual non-invasive vascular investigation techniques do not show any abnormalities.


METHODS
Fifty-six patients with one or more critical stenoses of the coronary arteries, but with a completely normal peripheral vascular examination, were submitted to intravascular ultrasonography of the peripheral arterial system following coronary arteriography. Sonicath Ultrasound catheters were used and images were created with a Diasonics Imaging System.


RESULTS
Although these 56 patients, after a profound noninvasive investigation, were classified as having perfectly normal peripheral arteries, we found severe arteriosclerotic wall abnormalities of the abdominal aorta and/or the iliac arterial system in 5% of the subjects. In addition, this exploration technique was used to evaluate the nature and the structure of the registered degenerative arteriosclerotic lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
Intra-arterial ultrasonography obviously is a very sensitive investigation method which allows tracing arteriosclerotic changes of the arterial wall in a very early preclinical stage. The external ultrasound exploration techniques still have several important limitations, which, of course, do not hinder the intravascular application. The remaining disadvantage of the intra-arterial ultrasonography is however its invasive character.
Claessens
J
J
Department of Cardiology, Eeuwfeestkliniek, Antwerp, Belgium.
Haseldonckx
C
C
D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods