evaluation of association between ultrasonographic carotid imt with severity of angiographic coronary artery involvement, in contrast to control group in angina pectoris patients

there are epidemiologic evidences suggested an increased carotid intima/media thickness (imt) as a predictor of cardiovascular disease events. the purpose of this study was to determine the differences of imt means in patients with positive and negative coronary angiographic findings. background: we conducted a case control study on patients with typical stable angina pectoris. the case group included 35 cases with positive coronary angiography findings; 35 patients with normal coronary angiography selected in a random sampling determined control group. diabetic patients and patients with chronic renal failure were excluded. carotid imt was calculated at common carotid, bulb and internal carotid arteries; also mean imt was calculated for each patient and presence of carotid artery plaque was considered. presence of plague and mean imt of carotid system were compared in case and control groups by x2, t-test and mann-withney if necessary. methods: we studied 59 patients (27f, 32m) in 2 groups. there was no significant difference between imt means in case and control groups in common carotid artery. on the other hand we found significant difference between imt means in case and control groups in internal carotid artery and carotid bulb (p