The correlation between the femoral artery intima-media thickness and the severity of coronary artery diseases

Abstract

Background: A pre-clinical sign of atherosclerisis is hypertrophy of arterial wall. F.IMT (Femoral intima-media thickness) is non-invasive marker of arterial wall alteration, which can easily be assessed by high resolusion B mode ultrasound. We aim to investigate the correlation between femoral intima-media thickness (F.IMT) and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: 111 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) were enrolled. Femoral IMT (F.IMT) was assessed by B mode ultrasound with 7.5 - 10 MHz probe about 10 -15 mm before bifurcation to profond and superficial femoral arteries. The F.IMT < 1.0 mm is named as “normal”, F.IMT ≥ 1.0 mm and < 1.5 mm is “thick” and ≥1.5 mm is defined as “atherosclerosic femoral plaque”. The severity of CADs was calculated by Gensini Score. Results: Mean F.IMT is 1.57 ± 1.23 mm, 55% patients with abnormal F.IMT (male 57.0% và female 50.0%), 36.9% of patients with CAD have atherosclerosic femoral plaque. There is a good correlation between F.IMT and severity of CAD by Gensini score and its risk factors (age, plasma glucose, smoking, hypertension…) Conclusion: Hospitalised patients with CAD are likely to have concomittant PAD with high frequency of femoral artery wall changes. F.IMT could be a helpful diagnostic marker and therapeutic points.