THE ROLE OF DUPLEX SCANNING OF THE CAROTID ARTERIES IN DETECTION OF CORRELATIONS BETWEEN CAROTID AND CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROSIS BY THE RESULTS OF CORONAROANGIOGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH STABLE ANGINA

Abstract

Aim. To determine probability of detection of coronary artery atherosclerotic lesion in coronaroangiography (CAG) depending on the presence or absence of carotid artery (CA) atherosclerosis according to findings of duplex scanning (DS). Material and methods. Of 851 patients admitted to hospital for coronary heart disease (CHD), 67 entered the trial. The patients were examined with DS of CA, exercise test, CAG. Analysis was made of correlations between detection of atherosclerosis in DS of CA and coronary atherosclerosis in CAG. Odds ratio and their confidential intervals were estimated. Results. Probability of coronary atherosclerosis detection in patients with CA atherosclerosis was much higher than in the absence of CA atherosclerosis by DS findings. Conclusion. It is recommended to use CA DS data in selection of anginal patients for CAG especially in cases when exercise test cannot be conducted or is not informative.

Keywords

• duplex scanning of the carotid arteries
• atherosclerosis
• coronaroangiography
• coronary heart disease