title: Lower Extremity Arterial Calcification as a Predictor of Coronary Atherosclerosis in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Until now, there has been no study on the relationship between the calcification of the lower extremity arteries and significant coronary arterial disease (CAD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether lower extremity calcium scores (LECS) are associated with CAD and whether this can predict multivessel-CAD in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively enrolled 103 PAD patients without cardiac symptoms or known CAD. All patients underwent cardiac computed tomography (CT) and lower extremity CT within 1 month and were categorized as nonsignificant CAD, single-CAD, or multivessel-CAD. The coronary calcium scores (CCS) were quantitatively measured according to the Agatston method and LECS were semi-quantitatively measured according to the presence of lower extremity calcification in the segment. The extent of CAD was evaluated according to the presence of ≥ 50% luminal diameter stenosis in the segment of CAD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LECS in multivessel-CAD were significantly higher than those in nonsignificant CAD (10.0 ± 5.8 versus 4.0 ± 3.1, P < 0.001). LECS significantly correlated with CCS (r = 0.831, P < 0.001) and the extent of CAD (r = 0.631, P < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated LECS and log-transformed CCS were independent predictors for multivessel-CAD. In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the diagnostic performance of LECS was 0.807 (95% confidence interval = 0.724-0.891, P < 0.001) for predicting multivessel-CAD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peripheral arterial calcification is significantly correlated with CAD extent in patients with PAD. Peripheral arterial calcification can be a useful marker for predicting multivessel-CAD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hwa Seon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jung Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nyeo Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Min Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soo Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dae
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seob Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boem Na
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ho
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheol Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Young Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eun Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Soo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bueum Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eun Park
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Coronary Artery Disease; Multidetector Computed Tomography; Peripheral Arterial Disease; Vascular Calcification