title: Comparison of non-invasive methods for the detection of coronary atherosclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-invasive detection of atherosclerosis is critical for its prevention.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To correlate non-invasively detectable indicators of coronary atherosclerosis, or Coronary Artery Disease (i.e., classical risk factors, hs-CRP test results, carotid intima-media thickness, endothelial function, ankle-brachial index and calcium score by computed tomography) with the extent of coronary disease assessed by the Friesinger index from conventional coronary angiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective study of 100 consecutive patients, mean age 55.1 +/- 10.7 years, 55% men and 45% women. Patients with acute coronary syndrome, renal dialytic insufficiency, collagen disease and cancer were not included. All patients were subjected to clinical evaluation and laboratory tests. Endothelial function of the brachial artery and carotid artery were evaluated by high-resolution ultrasound; ankle-brachial index and computed tomography for coronary determination of calcium score were also performed, and non-HDL cholesterol and TG/HDL-c ratio were calculated. All patients were subjected to coronary angiography at the request of the assistant physician. We considered patients without an obstructive lesion (< 29% stenosis) demonstrated by coronary angiography to be normal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Univariate analysis showed that calcium score, HDL-c, TG/HDL ratio and IMT were significantly correlated with the Friesinger index. However, multivariate analysis indicated that only calcium score and low HDL-c levels correlated significantly with the extension of CAD. On the other hand, hs-CRP, LDL-c, flow-mediated dilation, and Framingham score did not correlate with the Friesinger index. ROC analysis showed that calcium score, HDL-c and TG-HDL ratio accurately predicted extensive CAD in a statistically significant manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible to approximately determine the presence and extent of CAD by non-invasive methods, especially by calcium score, HDL-c and TG/HDL-c ratio assays.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Atherosclerosis Unit, Heart Institute (InCor), Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angela Bacelar Albuquerque
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Bampi
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Rochitte
authors.forename: Desiderio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Favarato
authors.forename: Pedro Alves
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.forename: Protásio Lemos
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: da Luz
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002118:Calcium