ACTA FAC. MED. NAISS. 2003; 20 (4): 219-222

Original article
 

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAROTID DISEASE AND THREE-VESSEL CORONARY DISEASE
 

Milan Đorić, Branko Lović, Ivan Tasić
Institute for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of rheumatic and cardiovascular diseases Niška Banja
 

SUMMARY
Clinical experience has established certain need for detail evaluation of carotid disease, especially after findings that respectable percentage of neurological accidents is from carotid arteria plaques. Color Doppler echo sonography is now established like golden standard among non-invasive methods, it's easy to perform and it significantly improves diagnostic procedure. The relationship and co-influence, as well as the same risk factors, bring us to the knowledge of synchronized study and evaluation of both carotid and coronary disease. In our study, 43 out of 45 patients had changes on carotid arteries, 32 of them stenosis above 30%, and what is very significant, there were 7 patients with stenosis above 50% and with bilateral changes. There is a clearly significant positive correlation between three-vessel disease on the one hand and, the percentage of stenosis and bilateral changes on the other. Taking into consideration all the above mentioned facts, we come to the conclusion that, in proven coronary patients, especially those with multiple risk factors, Color Doppler echo sonography of carotid arteries should be done routinly, even in clinically asymptomatic patients.

Key words: carotid arteries, coronary disease, Color Doppler echo sonography