Association between Carotid Intima-media Thickness and Early-onset Coronary Artery Disease: Does the site of Sonographic Evaluation Matter?

Background: Intima-media thickness (IMT) is frequently used for risk stratification (RS) due to the association with coronary artery disease (CAD). Nonetheless, the best carotid site to scan is uncertain, especially in the young. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of IMT measurements performed at different carotid sites.

Methods: Eighty-nine subjects ≤45 years were studied (55 with known CAD and 34 controls). IMT measurements were performed at the common carotid (CC), bulb and internal branch (IB) of both carotid arteries, (2112 measures). The diagnostic performance of IMT measurements performed at different sites, regarding the presence of CAD, was evaluated with ROC curves.

Results: Carotid plaques were found in 20.0% of the patients and 6.0% of the controls. The diagnostic performance of carotid IMT measures obtained at the CC, bulb or IB was not significantly different, with the CC and IB being slightly better (AUC ROC =0.82 and 0.80 respectively).

Conclusions: IMT measures obtained at different carotid sites are associated with CAD in young (≤45 years) individuals. The diagnostic performance of IMT measured at the CC and IB is the more accurate measure, and this may be the most adequate for the measurement of IMT in this population.