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Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research
Published on: October 22, 2014
Prevalence of coronary artery disease in patients with symptomatic peripheral vascular disease
R Bhardwaj1, N Ganju, M Sharma
1Department of Cardiology, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
Insights
Patients with symptomatic peripheral vascular disease often have normal coronary arteries. This study found low coronary artery disease prevalence despite severe peripheral vascular disease, suggesting focused cardiac screening may not always be necessary.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Vascular Surgery
- Interventional Cardiology
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) is frequently observed in patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD).
- Understanding coronary anatomy is crucial for patients presenting with symptomatic PVD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and extent of coronary artery disease in patients diagnosed with symptomatic peripheral vascular disease.
Main Methods:
- Peripheral angiography was performed on 53 patients with symptomatic PVD over two years.
- Coronary arteriography was conducted for all participating patients.
- Vessel involvement and occlusion severity were assessed for both peripheral and coronary arteries.
Main Results:
- A total of 117 peripheral vessels were involved across 53 patients.
- Coronary artery disease was identified in only 8 (15%) patients, involving 11 coronary arteries.
- Eighty-four percent of peripheral vessels showed total occlusion, compared to 18% of affected coronary arteries.
Conclusions:
- The majority of patients with symptomatic peripheral vascular disease exhibit normal coronary arteries.
- The prevalence and extent of coronary artery disease are notably low in this patient cohort, even with severe peripheral vascular disease.
Background:
Prevalence of coronary artery disease has been reported to be quite high in patients with peripheral vascular disease in western literature. Therefore, it is important to study the coronary anatomy in patients with symptomatic peripheral vascular disease.
Methods And Results:
Fifty-three patients presenting with symptoms of peripheral vascular disease underwent peripheral angiography in our institute during the last 2 years. The total number of vessels involved in these patients was 117. Fifteen patients had involvement of the upper limb vessels, 46 patients had involvement of the lower limb vessels and 6 patients had involvement of the carotid/vertebral arteries. Coronary arteriography was done in all the patients. Only 8 (15%) patients were found to have coronary artery disease with involvement of 11 arteries. Eighty-four (72%) peripheral vessels out of the 117 vessels involved showed total occlusion, whereas only 2 (18%) coronary arteries out of 11 vessels involved showed total occlusion.
Conclusions:
This study shows that the majority of patients with symptomatic peripheral vascular disease have normal coronaries, the extent of their involvement being low despite severe peripheral vascular disease.
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