| 박재형, 박윤선, 김연주, 이인숙, 김민수, 김준형, 이재환, 최시완, 정진옥, 성인환 |
Backgrounds: Increased carotid intima-media (cIMT) and aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) involves an active process with atherosclerosis and have been known as important predictive factors for increased cardiovascular event. However, few data are available on the association of cIMT and AVS. We evaluated the association of cIMT and maximal transaortic valve flow velocity (AV Vmax).
Materials and methods: We evaluated clinical profiles and echocardiographic examination in patients scheduled to coronary angiography. Patients with significant aortic stenosis and toher valvular heart diseases were excluded. Conventional echocardiographic exam was done with using 3MHz transducer and carotid ultrasonography was performed using 13MHz linear probe at the same time (Vivid 7, GE medical systems, Endover, USA).
Results: From January 2009 to June 2009, we included total 114 patients (63.2±11.9 years, 55 males). Their mean AV Vmax was 1.40±0.33m/sec and mean AV Vmean was 0.97±0.22m/sec. Mean right cIMT was 0.77±0.18mm and left cIMT was 0.76±0.16mm. There were significant correlations between AV Vmax and right cIMT (r=0.346, P<0.001), and left cIMT (r=0.360, P<0.001). The prevalence of increased cIMT (>0.8mm) was 49.1%. The mean AV Vmax (1.52±0.32 vs. 1.30±0.32m/sec, P<0.001) and mean AV Vmean (1.04±0.21 vs. 0.91±0.20m/sec, P=0.001) were significantly higher in these increased cIMT patients. In the prediction of increased cIMT by the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis according to AV Vmax, the optimal cutoff value was 1.35m/sec. Using AV Vmax >1.35m/sec as a cutoff value, the sensitivity and specificity of increased cIMT were 71.4% and 70.7%, respectively. The prevalence of AVS was 31.6% and the right cIMT (0.87±0.19 vs. 0.72±0.16mm, P<0.001) and left cIMT (0.86±0.16 vs. 0.72±0.15mm, P<0.001) were significantly thicker in these patients.
Conclusion: Increased cIMT was significantly correlated with increased AV Vmax, especially AV Vmax >1.35m/s and AVS. At the time of conventional echocardiographic exam, the carotid screen should be included in the patients with AV Vmax >1.35m/sec or presence of AVS.
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