This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kato, M. Articles by Nakaoka, K. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Kato, M. Articles by Nakaoka, K.

CLINICAL RESEARCH: CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

Clinical implications of carotid artery remodeling in acute coronary syndrome

Ultrasonographic assessment of positive remodeling

^* Department of Cardiology, Hiroshima City Asa Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan

^* Reprint requests and correspondence: Dr. Masaya Kato, Department of Cardiology, Hiroshima City Asa Hospital, 2-1-1 Kabeminami, Asakita-ku, Hiroshima 731-0293, Japan.
ms-katou{at}asa-hosp.city.hiroshima.jp

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the relationship between ultrasonographic features of the carotid artery and the angiographic features of coronary plaques in acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

BACKGROUND: The carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) may be a marker of advanced coronary artery disease.

METHODS: Consecutive ACS patients (N = 125) underwent B-mode ultrasonography within one week of the acute coronary event. Using a 7.5-MHz linear array transducer, the common carotid IMT, interadventitial diameter, and luminal diameter were examined. Carotid plaques were also assessed. Then patients were divided into two groups based on the number of complex plaques identified by coronary angiography.

RESULTS: The carotid IMT of 75 patients with multiple complex coronary plaques was significantly larger than that of 50 patients with solitary plaques (p < 0.0003). The prevalence of soft and hard carotid plaques was higher in the group with multiple coronary plaques than in those with single plaques (28% vs. 12%, p < 0.04 and 13% vs. 0%, p < 0.008, respectively). Additionally, the carotid interadventitial diameter was larger in the patients with multiple plaques than in those with single plaques (7.93 ± 0.97 mm vs. 7.48 ± 0.88 mm, p < 0.01), and a significant correlation was observed between the carotid IMT and interadventitial diameter (R = 0.54, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: In ACS, multiple complex coronary plaques are associated with positive carotid remodeling, suggesting that plaque vulnerability may be a systemic phenomenon.

Abbreviations and Acronyms   ACS = acute coronary syndrome   CAD = coronary artery disease   CK = creatine kinase   IMT = intima-media thickness   IVUS = intravascular ultrasound   MI = myocardial infarction

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Lefebvre, J-L. Pepin, J-P. Baguet, R. Tamisier, M. Roustit, K. Riedweg, G. Bessard, P. Levy, and F. Stanke-Labesque Leukotriene B4: early mediator of atherosclerosis in obstructive sleep apnoea? Eur. Respir. J., July 1, 2008; 32(1): 113 - 120. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]