[Prevalence of cervical and cerebral atherosclerosis and silent brain infarction in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease].
OBJECTIVE
This clinical study investigated the prevalence of cervical and cerebral atherosclerosis and silent brain infarction in patients with coronary artery disease.


METHODS
Cervical and cerebral magnetic resonance angiography(MRA) was performed in 133 patients (98 males, 35 females, mean age 65.3 years) with suspected coronary artery disease, who were divided into a zero- and one-vessel disease group(n = 71) and a two- and three-vessel disease group(n = 62) depending on the number of major coronary branches with 75% or more stenosis. The MRA lesion was defined as more than 50% stenosis. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) of the brain was performed within 1 week of MRA in 78 patients without symptomatic stroke and atrial fibrillation. Silent brain infarction on MRI was defined as a focal high intensity area on T2-weighted images larger than 3 mm.


RESULTS
The prevalence of MRA lesions was significantly greater in the two- and three-vessel group than in the zero- and one-vessel group(53% vs 14%, p < 0.01). The prevalence of MRI lesion was significantly higher in the two- and three-vessel group than in the zero- and one-vessel group(77% vs 36%, p < 0.01). The size and number of the MRI lesions were also significantly greater in the two- and three-vessel group than in the zero- and one-vessel group(p < 0.01). Neither age nor percentage of male gender was different between the groups. Diabetes mellitus was the common risk factor for coronary artery disease, MRA lesion and MRI lesion.


CONCLUSIONS
Cervical and cerebral atherosclerosis and silent brain infarction are frequently observed in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease.
Uekita
K
K
First Department of Internal Medicine, Megumino Hospital, Megumino Nishi 2-3-5, Eniwa, Hokkaido 061-1395.
Funayama
N
N
Nishiura
T
T
Makiguchi
N
N
Sakamoto
N
N
Aoyama
H
H
Kataoka
R
R
Hasebe
N
N
Kikuchi
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000150:complications*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence