PREVALENCE OF EXTRACRANIAL CAROTID AND VERTEBRAL ARTERY DISEASE IN CHINESE PATIENTS WITH CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE

Background and Purpose-Chinese have been reported to have an extremely low prevalence rate of carotid and vertebral artery disease in compar ison with whites. Previous studies, however, have been limited to gene ral hospital stroke admission or postmortem series and were prone to s election bias. Extracranial cerebrovascular disease (ECCVD) is associa ted with coronary artery disease (CAD) in whites. Data associating ECC VD with CAD in Chinese patients are not available. Methods-We studied 153 consecutive Chinese patients with angiographically documented CAD. Duplex ultrasonography was performed to identify any underlying extra cranial carotid and vertebral artery disease. Patient demographics; va scular risk factors; history of myocardial infarction, transient ische mic attack (TIA) or stroke; concomitant peripheral vascular disease (P VD); degree of left ventricular dysfunction; and extent and severity o f CAD were also noted and analyzed. Results-Significant (greater than or equal to 50%) stenosis of one or more of the extracranial cerebral arteries was found in 32 patients (21%). The internal and external car otid arteries were involved in 17 of 153 patients (11%) and 19 of 153 patients (12%), respectively. The vertebral artery was involved in 9 o f 153 patients (6%) and the common carotid artery in 3 of 153 (2%). Di abetes mellitus, hypertension, a history of TIA or stroke, and PVD wer e significantly associated with the presence of ECCVD. Conclusions-Sig nificant ECCVD is not uncommon in Chinese patients with CAD, and the p revalence is comparable with that reported in white populations. Patie nts with a history of diabetes, hypertension, TIA, stroke, and PVD are more likely to have concomitant ECCVD.