title: [Relevance between carotid plaque scores and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the relevance between carotid plaque and the severity of coronary artery disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 207 patients(149 males,58 females) undergoing coronary angiography were definitely diagnosed with coronary heart disease. They were divided into 3 groups of one-vessel disease (1VD, n = 69), two-vessel disease (2VD, n = 57) and three-or-more vessel disease (3VD, n = 81) by the number of involved vessels. Their physical findings, biochemical data and carotid ultrasonographic results were collected. And the scores of Crouse, Gensini and Leaman were calculated to compare the relevance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences existed among all three groups except for a higher age and the presence of plaque in 2VD and 3VD groups than 1VD group ((63 ± 11) and (60 ± 11) vs (57 ± 10)years old, 82%(n = 47) and 81%(n = 66) vs 65%(n = 45), both P < 0.05) . Crouse had a positive correlation with Gensini (r = 0.455, P < 0.01) and Leaman scores (r = 0.358, P < 0.01) .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assessment of plaque scores by carotid ultrasonography is clinically relevant for predicting the severity of coronary artery disease.
authors.affiliation: Nankai University School of Medicine, Tianjing 300052, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhi
authors.forename: Jun-song
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shu-lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yun-dai
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index