CAROTID PLAQUE CHARACTERISTICS AND ITS PREVALENCE IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background and Aims: To evaluate the prevalence and clinical significance of carotid artery plaque, in patients with coronary artery disease.

Material and Methods: A total of 1000 patients with 40-80 years of age with coronary artery disease were enrolled. Carotid ultrasonography was performed in all these patients.

Results: Among 100 patients with carotid artery disease, 36 had a carotid plaque. In plaque-positive cases, a majority of patients were in a 50 – 60-year age group. Dyslipidemia was found to be the most common risk factor for carotid plaque. In 36 plaque-positive cases, 20 (56%) were having the plaque at the carotid bulb and 16 (44%) were having the plaque at the common carotid artery. Out of 36 cases, 16 (44%) were hyperechogenic, 8 (22%) were calcified, 6 (17%) were moderate echogenic, 6 (17%) were low echogenic.

Conclusion: High-resolution B-mode ultrasonography is a useful non-invasive method to evaluate carotid atherosclerosis. Carotid plaques of the common carotid artery are a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis and associated with cardiovascular events. Routine screening of patients with coronary artery disease may be considered.

Keywords: Carotid artery stenosis, coronary artery disease, cardiovascular events, atherosclerosis, carotid ultrasonography.