title: An evaluation of coronary atherosclerosis using coronary CT in subjects with asymptomatic carotid lesions.
abstract: The evaluation of coronary lesions in patients with asymptomatic carotid plaque represents a very promising line of research to assess cardiovascular risk and the possible implementation of a more aggressive prevention therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study we enrolled 102 patients with intermediate to high cardiovascular risk but no history of coronary artery disease. The first group, consisting of 51 patients, underwent a Coronary CT scan (CCT-group) as well as carotid ultrasonography. The second group, also consisting of 51 patients, underwent coronary angiography (CA) and carotid ultrasonography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The absence of a statistically significant difference between the involvement of both coronary and carotid sites, assessed by CCT and CA, confirms the role of coronary CT as a useful method in the preclinical evaluation of cardiovascular risk. In the CCT group, the correlation between atherosclerosis of carotid artery and coronary disease, as well as between the mean carotid intimal medial thickness and the number of involved coronary vessels, and between the maximum values of carotid plaque and the presence of coronary artery stenosis > 50%, were statistically significant. The Agatson calcium score was also statistically associated with carotid plaque size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The imaging biomarkers have a key role in the evaluation of subclinical atherosclerotic disease. Moreover, carotid ultrasound examination and a CT-scan of coronary arteries, in a particular sub-group of patients with intermediate to high cardiovascular risk, can play a crucial role to assess the preventive therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular and Nephrologic Diseases, Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Diseases School of Specialization, University of Palermo.
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bonomo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular and Nephrologic Diseases, Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Diseases School of Specialization, University of Palermo.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piraino
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, University Federico II of Naples ( umbertomarcello.bracale@unina.it ).
authors.forename: Umberto Marcello
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Bracale
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular and Nephrologic Diseases, Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Diseases School of Specialization, University of Palermo.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Evola
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular and Nephrologic Diseases, Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Diseases School of Specialization, University of Palermo.
authors.forename: Mariaconcetta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Piazza
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular and Nephrologic Diseases, Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Diseases School of Specialization, University of Palermo.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vicari
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular and Nephrologic Diseases, Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Diseases School of Specialization, University of Palermo.
authors.forename: Ambra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lupo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular and Nephrologic Diseases, Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Diseases School of Specialization, University of Palermo.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Inga
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular and Nephrologic Diseases, Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Diseases School of Specialization, University of Palermo.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andolina
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular and Nephrologic Diseases, Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Diseases School of Specialization, University of Palermo.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Assennato
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular and Nephrologic Diseases, Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Diseases School of Specialization, University of Palermo.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Novo
keywords: carotid artery disease; coronary angiography; coronary atherosclerosis; coronary computed tomography angiography; duplex scan