Color duplex scanning for the identification of extracranial atherosclerosis in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND
The presence of extracranial artery disease has been used as a predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD). The present study was conducted to test the prevalence of extracranial artery disease among patients with suspected CAD.


METHODS
Among candidates for coronary arteriography, 400 consecutive patients (mean age 63 +/- 11 years, 78% males, 22% females) underwent color duplex ultrasound of carotid arteries.


RESULTS
Extracranial artery disease was documented in 60 patients (15%), CAD in 309 patients (77%). Patients with extracranial artery disease were significantly older (p < 0.001), smoked a higher amount of pack-years (p < 0.001), showed a higher incidence of diabetes (p < 0.01), hypertension (p < 0.05) and CAD (p < 0.05) when compared to extracranial artery disease-free subjects. Plotting age against extracranial artery disease and CAD distribution, extracranial artery disease occurred later in life than CAD (p < 0.001). The best cut-off point of age for predicting extracranial artery disease was 68 years. Carotid angiography was performed in 114 patients after cardiac catheterization (k = 0.8044 with color duplex scanning).


CONCLUSIONS
Extracranial artery disease is frequent among patients undergoing coronary arteriography. Carotid ultrasound screening is useful in older patients.
Zimarino
M
M
Dipartimento di Cardiologia e Cardiochirurgia, Università degli Studi, Chieti. emosax@yahoo.com
Soccio
M
M
Scarpignato
M
M
Venarucci
V
V
Cappelletti
L
L
Di Crecchio
A
A
Cini
R
R
Gallina
S
S
Calafiore
A M
AM
Barsotti
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data