[Relationship between the slow coronary flow and carotid artery intima-media thickness].
OBJECTIVE
This study was planned to investigate the relationship between slow coronary flow and the carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) which is an indicator of early atherosclerotic changes in vascular tree.


METHODS
Consecutive patients (n=203) who were free of any coronary lesions in coronary angiograms were enrolled. The patients were assigned into slow flow (97) and normal flow (106) groups according to the corrected TIMI frame count (CTFC) of every three coronary arteries. Carotid artery intima-media thickness was measured via computer software regarding far-wall method in both common carotid arteries. Maximum and mean CIMT values were compared between the two groups. The accuracy of CIMT in the prediction of slow coronary flow was estimated using Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (ROC) analysis.


RESULTS
Maximum and mean CIMT values were 0.814+/-0.106 mm and 0.668+/-0.080 mm for normal flow group and 0.966+/-0.133 mm, 0.780+/-0.105 mm for slow flow group, respectively (p<0.001). Using 0.861 as the cut-off value for maximum CIMT positive and negative predictive values of slow flow were 80.1% and 70.2% (area under the ROC curve=0.809; p<0.001; 95% CI 0.750-0.868).


CONCLUSIONS
We find out that CIMT and CTFC are strongly correlated. This implies that slow coronary flow could be an early marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. So patients with slow flow should be followed-up prospectively for possibility of manifest atherosclerosis.
Avşar
Ozgür
O
Department of Cardiology, Medical Faculty, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey. drozguravsar@yahoo.com
Demir
Ibrahim
I
Ekiz
Ozgür
O
Altekin
R Emre
RE
Yalçinkaya
Selim
S
D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler