The Relationship Between Carotid Atherosclerosis and Ischemic Heart Disease

Abstract

Scientific background: Atherosclerosis is a devastating disease that mainly affects coronary arteries, as well as cerebral and peripheral vascular system. Evidences of coexisting cerebrovascular disease in patients with other manifestations of atherothrombosis are not rare in our daily experiences. Objectives: In this study, the rate of ischemic heart diseases with accompaniment of carotid atherosclerosis was searched in patients with ischemic stroke. Materials and methods: Consecutive 412 patients (202 females and 210 males) with transient ischemic attacks (TIA) and ischemic stroke were taken into the study. Doppler ultrasonography was performed to evaluate carotid arteries. Patient demographics, vascular risk factors, cardiac examinations including history, physical examinations, echocardiography, electrocardiography and coronary angiography (if it was indicated) were evaluated. Results: Significant (>50%) stenosis was found in 85 patients (20. 6%). In these patients with significant stenosis, female gender was found to be protective for the development of carotid atherosclerosis (p<0.05); however being a smoker, older age and having coronary artery disease were found to have a negative impact (p<0.05). The percentage of coronary artery disease was 36.5% in severe carotid stenosis while it was found 21.4% in the group of patients with lesser degree of carotid artery stenosis (p=0.016). Conclusion: Concerning the results of current study, it is possible to conclude that, non invasive screening for asymptomatic coronary heart disease in all patients with cerebrovascular disease and Doppler ultrasonography for carotid atherosclerosis in all patients with coronary artery disease is worth performing.