Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

BACKGROUND: 
Nevertheless, of a number of prevention schemes, coronary artery illness continues to exist as                    the leading cause of death worldwide disease. Within this context, Intima media thickness is believed to have a key role in the atherosclerosis initiation. The development of ultrasound machines, advances in echocardiographic devices with great determination transducers facilitate total study of carotid –intima media thickness (C-IMT).                                            
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the relationship of Carotid Intima Media Thickness with the severity of coronary vessels illness.                                                                                                             
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Through the sections of a cross sectional multicenter diagnostic accuracy survey assessing C-IMT in a total of one hundred thirty two  patients preselected to undergo coronary angiography. For this purpose, patients' demographic data and the disease- associated risk factors were evaluated. Two dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic measurements were done. Furthermore, C-IMT measurements were obtained as it specified by the American society of echocardiography (ASE). Consequences of the study sample as all were revised according to angiographic findings.
RESULTS:
 In the present study, a total of 132 patients, of them 72 patients were included in the CAD group while 60 patients with no CAD served as control. The most important risk factors for CAD are modifiable, while family history of CAD ( a non- modifiable risk factor) was not significant                         (P value=0.348). There was direct and significant correlation between C-IMT and severity of CAD. ROC analysis for validity of C-IMT to discriminate between multiple vessels disease and no vessel involvement is excellent (AUC= 0.961, cut point > 1.04mm, sensitivity=92.9%. specificity=86.7%). C-IMT is fair to discriminate between single vessel disease and no vessel involvement (AUC=0.738, cut point ˃ 0.84mm, sensitivity 100%), so if correlated with age, C-IMT above 0.84 is utilized as  can  be used as a detached theme to guessing of CAD.                                  
CONCLUSION:
C-IMT is simple, inexpensive and reproducible parameter that is utilized to be showing aid to the presence and severity of CAD particularly earlier indications showing in great danger for sick people.