Association of plaque in the carotid and coronary arteries, using MDCT angiography.
OBJECTIVE
Associations between various plaque types in coronary and carotid arteries using multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) have not yet been reported. We evaluated MDCT correlation of total plaque and various plaque subtypes in carotid and coronary arteries.


METHODS
We studied 62 patients who had both carotid and cardiac computed tomography angiography (CTA). The plaque in each vascular segment was classified as non-calcified, calcified or mixed.


RESULTS
The average age of this population was 68+/-22 years, 63% males. Total plaque in the carotid artery correlated with total, calcified and mixed plaque in the coronary artery (all P<0.001). Calcified plaque in the carotid artery was associated with total and calcified plaque in the coronary bed (P<0.001). Non-calcified coronary plaque was not associated with carotid plaque.


CONCLUSIONS
Total plaque in coronary and carotid arteries are highly correlated.
Division of Cardiology, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA, Department of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, 1124 W, Carson Street, Torrance, CA 90502, United States. yasminshamshuddin@yahoo.com
Yasmin S
YS
Hamirani
Vahid
V
Larijani
Hussain
H
Isma'eel
Sandeep R
SR
Pagali
Phillips
P
Bach
Ronald P
RP
Karlsberg
Matthew J
MJ
Budoff
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods