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Forearm vessel atherosclerosis. A harbinger of carotid disease?

Mika Kohonen1, Ossi Teerenhovi, Tiina Terho

  • 1Heart Center, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. mika.kohonen@pshp.fi

Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal : SCJ
|July 11, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Atherosclerotic changes in forearm arteries correlate with carotid artery disease. Preoperative screening of forearm vessels may indicate a higher risk for carotid artery disease in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Surgery
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

  • Atherosclerosis is a systemic condition impacting multiple blood vessels.
  • Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) often present with concurrent carotid artery atherosclerosis, increasing surgical risks.
  • Forearm arteries are routinely assessed preoperatively for potential grafting in CABG procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between atherosclerotic changes in forearm arteries and the presence of carotid artery disease.
  • To determine if forearm vessel pathology can serve as an indicator for increased risk of carotid artery disease.

Main Methods:

  • Eighty-five patients scheduled for elective CABG were included in the study.
  • Preoperative ultrasonography was utilized for biplane scanning of both forearm and carotid arteries.
  • Assessment focused on identifying atherosclerotic changes and pathological alterations in vessel walls.

Main Results:

  • Pathological changes in forearm vessels were identified in 11 patients.
  • Carotid artery disease was diagnosed in 19 patients.
  • A significant correlation was observed between forearm vessel pathology and carotid artery disease, with a five-fold increased risk when forearm arteries exhibit atherosclerotic changes.

Conclusions:

  • Forearm arterial pathology is demonstrably correlated with carotid artery disease.
  • The presence of forearm vessel pathology during preoperative examinations warrants consideration for carotid vessel screening.
  • This finding suggests forearm vessel assessment could aid in identifying patients at higher risk for carotid artery disease.
Abstract

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