Carotid Artery Doppler Ultrasound and Coronary Calcium Score in Assessment of Atherosclerosis in Patients with Suspected Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract
Background: Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in both industrialized and low income to middle-income countries. As atherosclerosis is the underlying cause for most of CAD, so identification of subclinical disease in the asymptomatic phase has emerged as a public health and economic imperative.
Aim of Study: The aim of the study was to evaluate the ability of carotid artery Doppler ultrasound and coronary artery calcium score as screening tools for atherosclerosis in patients who underwent CT coronary angiography for suspect-ed coronary artery disease.
Patients and Methods: This study was conducted on 30 patients (17 males and 13 females) with mean age of 58 years with atypical chest pain underwent Cardiac CT (CCT) and carotid Ultrasound (US) on the same day. Carotid artery atherosclerosis was evaluated by detection of Carotid Intimal Thickness (CIMT) & Carotid Plaque Score (CPS) then coro-nary arteries were evaluated by CCT. Coronary artery calcium score was obtained from axial non contrast cardiac CT and finally Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) was evaluated by Gensini score. The relation between both carotid artery Doppler findings & CACS and severity of coronary artery disease were detected.
Results: There were significant association between carotid artery disease that was estimated by CIMT, CPS and Gensini score (p=0.045 & 0.004). There was also a significant associ-ation between CACS and Gensini score (p=0.039).
Conclusion: Subclinical atherosclerosis as defined by CIMT, CPS and CACs can be simple, non-invasive yet sensi-tive risk-prediction tools to promptly identify those individuals at risk of CVD.