Jashnani, Kusum DKulkarni, Rohit RDeshpande, Jaya R2005-07-152009-05-272005-07-152009-05-272005-07-15Jashnani KD, Kulkarni RR, Deshpande JR. Role of carotid intima-media thickness in assessment of atherosclerosis: an autopsy study. Indian Heart Journal. 2005 Jul-Aug; 57(4): 319-23http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/3084BACKGROUND: The non-invasive technique of measuring carotid artery intima-media thickness has generated considerable interest as a marker of atherosclerosis, particularly in predicting clinical coronary events and coronary artery disease. In the present study, a postmortem comparative analysis of intima-media thickness of carotid artery with coronary artery atherosclerosis has been carried out. To date no such morphological tissue studies are available from our country. METHODS AND RESULTS: Right and left common carotid arteries with their branches were removed at postmortem in 40 cases with history of diabetes, hypertension or both. Intima-media thickness was measured and compared with coronary artery atherosclerosis. There were 10 control postmortem cases without history of diabetes or hypertension. Common carotid artery and internal carotid artery intima-media thickness were found to be good predictors of coronary events. There was also significant correlation (by Pearson's correlation formula) between the carotid artery intima-media thickness and the percentage of block in the coronary arteries. CONCLUSIONS: Internal carotid artery along with common carotid artery intima-media thickness measurement is a good predictor of coronary artery disease. However, carotid artery intima-media thickness has no bearing on the status of collateral circulation of the coronary arteries.engAgedCarotid Artery, Common --pathologyCarotid Artery, Internal --pathologyCoronary Artery Disease --pathologyCoronary Vessels --pathologyDiabetes Mellitus --pathologyFemaleHumansHypertension --pathologyMaleMiddle AgedPredictive Value of TestsTunica Intima --pathologyTunica Media --pathologyComparative Study