Usefulness of electron beam tomography to detect progression of coronary and aortic calcium in middle-aged women

Electron beam tomography (EBT) permits the noninvasive quantification of co ronary and aortic calcium as a marker of atherosclerosis, Coronary and aort ic calcium are strongly related to premenopausal cardiovascular risk factor s in middle-aged women. This report evalvates changes in coronary and aorti c calcium over an average of 18 months in 80 women. Measurement variation o ver time and between readings is also evaluated, in these women who were fo llowed through the menopausal transition. Eight years after menopause, 80 w omen (average age 63 years) underwent serial EBT of the coronary arteries a nd aorta separated by 18 months, Calcium scores were based on the number an d density of calcific deposits. Duplicate readings were obtained to evaluat e the effect of reading variation on calcium scores. At baseline, the media n calcium score was 0 in the coronary arteries and 58 in the aorta, Average change in coronary (+11) and aortic (+112) calcium were significantly diff erent from zero (p <0.001), Reading variability did not contribute signific antly to the variation in calcium scores. Extent of calcium in the coronary arteries was associated with progression of calcium in the aorta (p = 0,01 3), Both coronary and aortic calcium were significantly associated with pre menopausal cardiovascular risk factors. Thus, progression of coronary and a ortic calcium using EBT can be observed over a short time in healthy middle -aged women. (C) 2001 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.