The relationship between the carotid atherosclerosis ultrasound parameters and the cardiac and endothelial functions of coronary heart disease patients.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aimed to discover the relationship between the carotid atherosclerosis ultrasound parameters and the cardiac and endothelial functions of coronary heart disease patients. METHODS: 150 patients with coronary artery disease were divided into a single-branch group (one coronary artery with stenosis > 50%), a double-branch group (two coronary arteries with stenosis > 50%), and a multi-branch group (multiple coronary arteries with stenosis > 50%) based on the severity of each patient's coronary stenosis. Meanwhile, 50 healthy volunteers who were admitted to the hospital for routine health checks were recruited as the control group. This study tested the ultrasound parameters of carotid artery atherosclerosis among all the subjects in each group [common carotid artery sclerosis (ß), carotid artery compliance (AC), elastic coefficient (Ep), pulse wave conduction velocity (PWVß)], including the left ventricular end diastolic inner diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and endothelial function parameters [endothelin-1 (ET-1), von Willebrand factor (vWF), and nitric oxide (NO)]. RESULTS: The study found that the ß, AC, Ep, PWVß, LVEDD, LVESD, ET-1, and vWF levels of patients with coronary artery disease were all higher than the corresponding levels in the control group (P < 0.05). The values increased as the number of coronary artery branches with stenosis increased (P < 0.05). The LVEF and NO of the patients with coronary artery disease were lower than they were in the control group (P < 0.05). The LVEF and NO decreased as the coronary artery branches with stenosis increased (P < 0.05). The correlation analysis indicated that the ultrasound parameter of carotid atherosclerosis has a significant positive relation with the LVEDD, LVESD, ET-1, and vWF levels (P < 0.05) and a negative relation with the LVEF and NO levels (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The ultrasound parameter of carotid atherosclerosis, cardiac function, and endothelial function can be used for the early diagnosis of coronary heart disease.