J Korean Geriatr Soc.  2001 Mar;5(1):18-23.

Carotid Atherosclerosis as a Marker of Atherosclerosis of the Thoracic Aorta in the Elderly

• Shin YW
• Chun KJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Carotid atherosclerosis and aortic at herosclerosis are both a predictor of atherosclertic cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship between carotid and aortic atherosclerosis is not well known.
METHODS
We performed B-mode ultrasound examinations of the carotid arteries in 38 consecutive elderly cases(13 men, mean age 69+/-3 years and 25 women, mean age 69+/-5 years) who underwent transesophageal echocardiography, to assess whether atherosclerosis in the carotid artery correlates with thoracic aortic atherosclerosis or may be a marker for it.
RESULTS
The incidence of carotid and thoracic aortic atherosclerotic plaques were 44.7% and 50%, respectively. There was a significant relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and thoracic aortic atherosclerosis(r=0.532, p<0.01), and a increase in the extent of aortic atherosclerosis with increasing grades of carotid atherosclerosis. In the entire study cases, the presence of carotid atherosclerosis had a sensitivity 63.2%, specificity 73.7%, positive value 72.6% and negative predictive value 66.7% in detec-ting thoracic aortic atherosclerosis.
CONCLUSION
In the Korean elderly, B-mode ultra sound examination of the carotid arteries is a easy and useful technique for the prediction of the presence and severity of thoracic atherosclerosis.

Keyword

Atherosclerosis; Carotid arteries; Aorta; ultrasonics

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Aorta
Aorta, Thoracic*
Atherosclerosis*
Cardiovascular Diseases
Carotid Arteries
Carotid Artery Diseases*
Echocardiography, Transesophageal
Female
Humans
Incidence
Male
Plaque, Atherosclerotic
Sensitivity and Specificity
Ultrasonics
Ultrasonography