[Prediction of coronary artery stenosis by measurement of total plaque area and thickness versus intima media thickness of the carotid artery].

Total plaque area (TPA), maximum plaque thickness and intima media thickness (IMT) in the carotid arteries of 431 patients aged 27-88 years were measured 1 day before a planned coronary artery angiography without any clinical knowledge about the patient. Age-related cut-off values of the TPA for the presence of coronary stenosis were evaluated. Using ultrasound four types of carotid artery atherosclerosis were identified. The accuracy of detection of cardiovascular coronary stenosis was 87% for types III and IVb. No type I patient had coronary stenosis. The IMT was significantly less predictive: the area under the curve (AUC) for TPA by age and plaque thickness was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.78-0.85) versus IMT 0.59 (95% CI: 0.54-0.64, p = 0.001). Prediction with TPA measurement by age and plaque thickness was better than TPA alone: AUC 0.82 (95% CI: 0.78-0.85) versus 0.77 (95% CI: 0.73-0.81, p = 0.0028), respectively. In a second cohort of 2566 healthy men and 1216 healthy women aged between 20 and 64 years who were examined in an occupational screening program, 11.2% of the men and 3.4% of the women showed a type III or IVb result. In the mean follow-up of period of 23.4 ± 14.4 months, 14 heart attacks, 7 bypass operations and 3 stent implantations occurred and 6 subjects showed coronary stenosis between 50% and 95% in coronary angiography. In the baseline examination 26 out of 30 patients showed a type III or IVb result. In the case of men and women with types III and IVb diagnosis by ultrasound, pharmaceutical treatment could be indicated in order to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. Type I patients do not need preventive medication or coronary catheterization.