[Correlation between carotid and aortic atherosclerosis in asymptomatic subjects].
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between carotid and aortic atherosclerosis in asymptomatic subjects.


METHODS
Eighty-three consecutive patients without history of cardio- and cerebrovascular disease, referred for transesophageal echocardiography, were enrolled into the study.


RESULTS
Aortic plaques were found in 40 out of 83 patients, whereas carotid atherosclerosis was present in 43% of the entire study population and in 75% of patients with aortic atherosclerosis (30 out of 40 patients). At multivariate logistic analysis, the presence of carotid atherosclerosis was a predictor of aortic atheroma, independently of traditional risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
In asymptomatic patients, aortic plaque occurrence may reflect the presence of carotid plaques and an ultrasound assessment should be advised.
De Tommaso
Italo
I
Dipartimento dell'Alta Specialita del Cuore, A.O. San Carlo, Potenza. adriano77@alice.it
Tarsia
Giandomenico
G
De Michele
Mario
M
Lopizzo
Agostino
A
Costantino
Marco Fabio
MF
Grandinetti
Giuseppe
G
Lopizzo
Antonio
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging