European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Background:Carotid disease i s a common finding in patients with CAD & its presence
is associated with worse clinical outcomes, IMT provides incremental value over the
traditional risk factors in predicting cardiovascular events. Ultrasonography of the
carotid arteries is easily available, cost effective, non-invasive method ofevaluation. The
purpose of the present study is to evaluate the severity of atherosclerosis in extracranial
carotid vessels in patients diagnosed of coronaryartery disease.
Materials and Methods: The present study included 30patientsdiagnosedascoronary
artery disease by coronary angiogram. The conclusions of coronary angiogram were not
made available to theradiologist. Thepatients included in the study were subjected to
gray scale &color duplex examination of extracranial carotid arteries. The presence &
severity of atherosclerotic disease in the extracrani al carotid vessels will be assessed
interms of increased IMT and plaques.Luminalnarrowing andspectral wave pattern
were evaluated.
Results: Among the 30patients examined, 25patients hadcarotiddisease in the form of
increased IMT inone ormore ofthe examined vessels. Highest number of plaques were
noted in the carotid bulb followed by internal carotid artery. Most of the examined
plaques had uniform surface and were predominantly echolucent. The severity of
coronary disease i s correlated with the carotid atherosclerosis.
Conclusion: With the increase in the number of coronary vessels involved, there was an
increase in the percentageofpatientswithcarotiddiseaseinthe form of increased IMT or
plaque. There was also increase in the percentage
ofpatientswithcarotiddiseasewithincreaseintheseverity ofcoronary stenosis.