Volume 49, Issue 2 June 2025 JVU 492-75 | Clinical and Biomedical Role and Importance of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Cross-Sectional Area Among Coronary Artery Disease Subjects-Volume 49, Issue 2 June 2025 JVU 492-75 | Clinical and Biomedical Role and Importance of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Cross-Sectional Area Among Coronary Artery Disease Subjects

Volume 49, Issue 2 June 2025 JVU 492-75 | Clinical and Biomedical Role and Importance of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Cross-Sectional Area Among Coronary Artery Disease Subjects

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The study published in the Journal for Vascular Ultrasound investigates the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), carotid cross-sectional area (CSA), and coronary artery disease (CAD). It compares 80 CAD patients with 80 healthy controls matched by age and gender. This research aims to reinforce the understanding of CIMT and CSA as indicators of cardiovascular health and their potential predictive value for CAD.<br /><br />The research demonstrates that both CIMT and CSA measurements are significantly higher in patients with CAD compared to the control group. Participants with more severe CAD (multi-vessel involvement) also exhibited higher CIMT values, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and SYNTAX I scores. The data suggest a strong correlation between increased CIMT and CSA with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis, which could enhance cardiovascular disease prevention strategies.<br /><br />The study employed carotid duplex ultrasonography to measure CIMT and CSA, demonstrating their utility in assessing vascular remodeling. Such non-invasive techniques offer a promising alternative to traditional coronary angiography by potentially allowing early detection of atherosclerosis.<br /><br />Although the study provides compelling evidence supporting the role of CIMT and CSA as biomarkers for CAD, it acknowledges limitations such as its single-center design and moderate sample size, which may affect the generalizability of results.<br /><br />The research contributes to the field by proposing that a CIMT value below 0.8 mm or a CSA less than 0.25 cm² could effectively rule out the presence of CAD, suggesting these measurements provide high diagnostic accuracy. This could have practical implications by aiding in the early identification and management of patients at risk, possibly integrating these metrics into routine clinical evaluations alongside conventional risk assessments.

Keywords

carotid intima-media thickness

CIMT

carotid cross-sectional area

CSA

coronary artery disease

CAD

cardiovascular health

atherosclerosis

vascular ultrasound

biomarkers