The prevalence of calcified carotid atheromas on the panoramic radiographs of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.
OBJECTIVE
Individuals with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) often die from heart failure without a transplant. Of those who do receive a transplant, a significant number suffer a perioperative stroke, although the cause is often in doubt. Our study attempts to determine whether the prevalence of calcified carotid artery atheromas, a known cause of stroke, is greater on the panoramic radiographs of individuals with DCM than it is among controls.


METHODS
Twenty-seven persons [mean age 62.3 years] enrolled in the UCLA Cardiac Transplantation Program were provided a panoramic radiograph. An age-matched, atherogenic risk-matched cohort of 54 patients free of DCM served as controls. The radiographs of patients in each group were examined for the presence of calcified carotid atheromas.


RESULTS
Nine of the 27 patients with DCM had calcified atheromas, whereas only 2 of the 54 patients in the control group had such lesions. This difference was statistically significant (P<.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Panoramic radiographs may be helpful in identifying some DCM patients with occult carotid artery atherosclerosis who may be at risk for a subsequent stroke.
Sung
Eric C
EC
University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
Friedlander
Arthur H
AH
Kobashigawa
Jon A
JA
D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012307:Risk Factors; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012907:Smoking; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology