Association between coronary artery atherosclerosis and the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery measured on ultrasonography.

OBJECTIVE To assess whether the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery of patients with coronary artery disease is greater than that of individuals without that disease. METHODS Case-control prospective study of prevalence assessing the thickness of the intima and media layers of 29 patients with coronary artery disease and 29 individuals without that disease by using ultrasonography of the carotid arteries. Diabetic patients and those with peripheral artery and cerebral vasculopathies were excluded from the study. RESULTS The mean age was 51 +/- 7.5 years. Fifty-five per cent of the patients were males. Acute myocardial infarction was present in 62%; cardiac catheterization in 72%; saphenous bypass in 5%; and coronary angioplasty in 24%. The intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery in case patients and in control patients was, respectively, 0.81 +/- 0.25 mm and 0.62 +/- 0.18 mm (P=0.001). CONCLUSION Intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery was significantly greater in patients with coronary artery disease.