title: Detection of silent arteriosclerotic lesions by intra-arterial ultrasonography.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Eeuwfeestkliniek, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Claessens
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haseldonckx
mesh_terms: 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