Abstract
Background
This study examined whether combined ultrasound assessment of plaque size and intraplaque neovascularization in the carotid artery had an additive effect for predicting coronary events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
Methods
CEUS of the carotid plaques using perfluorobutane microbubbles as an ultrasound contrast agent and Ultrasound assessment of carotid plaque maximum intima-media thickness (max IMT) was performed in 221 patients with CAD and carotid plaque IMT over 2mm. Intraplaque neovascularization was identified on the basis of microbubbles within the carotid plaque and graded as: G0, not visible; G1, moderate; or G2, extensive microbubbles. All study patients were followed up prospectively for 5 years or until the occurrence of a cardio-vascular event.
Result
During the follow-up period, 53 coronary events (9 cardiac deaths, 44 ACSs) were occurred. Multivariate Cox hazards analysis showed that max IMT and CEUS grade were independent predictors of coronary events (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.15–2.21 p=0.005 and HR 2.26, 95% CI 1.52–3.36 p<0.01) that were independent of age, gender, diabetes and LDL-C levels. C-statistics for logistic models predicting future coronary events using conventional risk factors with or without the addition of max IMT alone, CEUS grade alone, and both max IMT and CEUS grade in combination (area under the ROC curve; 0.55,0.61,0.69 and 0.71, respectively). The addition of the plaque enhanced intensity to traditional risk factors resulted in net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) (NRI 0.42, p=0.002; and IDI 0.04, p=0.002).
CEUS grade and ROC curve for 3models
Conclusions
Combined ultrasound assessment of carotid plaque IMT and intraplaque neovascularization has an additive value on the prediction of coronary events.
The Carotid Intima Media Thickness: A Predictor of the Clincal Coronary Events
