Frequency of coronary artery stenosis in patients with asymptomatic familial hypercholesterolemia and its association with carotid intimal thickness and cardio-ankle vascular index

Abstract

Frequency of coronary artery stenosis in patients with asymptomatic familial hypercholesterolemia and its association with carotid intimal thickness and cardio-ankle vascular index Masayo Suzuki,1 Mao Takahashi,1 Takuo Iizuka,1 Hitoshi Terada,2 Hirohumi Noike,1 Kohji Shirai3 1Cardiovascular Center, Internal Medicine, 2Department of Radiology, 3Department of Vascular Function, Sakura Hospital, Medical Center, Toho University, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is associated with premature coronary arterial disease. We aimed to determine the incidence of coronary artery stenosis (CAS) in asymptomatic FH patients using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). To investigate the association between CAS and atherosclerosis of carotid arteries, we performed ultrasonography to measure the mean intima-media thickness (IMT), maximum IMT, and plaque score. We also aimed to examine the significance of the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and its association with the incidence of CAS in asymptomatic FH patients. Patients and methods: We enrolled consecutively, 31 FH patients without symptoms of coronary artery disease. Based on the CCTA findings, we divided the patients into two groups, those with and without CAS, and compared various parameters and risk factors of the two groups. Results: Of 31 FH patients, seven patients (22.6%) had CAS. The proportion of male patients and mean low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level were higher in patients with CAS than in those without CAS (P