title: Is there an association between coronary atherosclerosis and airway responsiveness?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent data suggested a relationship between carotid artery intima/media thickness and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Our objective was to assess the potential relationship between AHR and coronary atherosclerosis plaque volume as assessed by 3-dimensional intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six subjects had a spirometry and methacholine challenge, skin prick tests, blood sampling and induced sputum analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found five (13.9%) patients who presented AHR to methacholine. There was no significant difference between patients with and without AHR, in plaque volume (221 +/- 45 mm3 vs. 189 +/- 13 mm3, P = 0.4), lumen volume (187 +/- 11 mm3 vs. 221 +/- 11 mm3, P = 0.2), or in total vessel volume (377 +/- 20 mm3 vs. 415 +/- 20 mm3, P = 0.5), respectively. No relationship was found between AHR, cell counts and coronary atherosclerotic plaque, lumen or total vessel volumes. There were significantly more eosinophils (1.69 +/- 1.75% vs. 0.21 +/- 0.31%, P = 0.0007) and lymphocyte counts (3.75 +/- 1.59% vs. 2.25 +/- 1.12%, P = 0.03) in patients with AHR compared to patients without.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with stable coronary artery disease, the incidence of AHR was low and there was no relationship between AHR or airway inflammation and coronary atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Laval Hospital/Quebec Heart-Lung Institute, Quebec City, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turmel
authors.forename: Louis-Philippe
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Boulet
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Series
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poirier
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tardif
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodes-Cabau
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Larose
authors.forename: Olivier F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Bertrand
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013147:Spirometry; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents; D016210:Methacholine Chloride