Objective: To evaluate the role of CT angiography of coronaries (CTAC) in the diagnosis of subclinical atherosclerosis by detection of coronary artery plaques (CAP) in a group of consecutive albanian individuals with no history of coronary artery disease (CAD) or acute coronary syndrome and to investigate the relation between the prevalence of CAP, traditional risk factors and the expected 10-year risk of fatal cardiovascular event (CVE) based on our own experience. Method and Technique: This is a prospective study including 456 patients with no history of CAD who underwent CTAC in our hospital from September 2009 to March 2013. Risk estimation of fatal CVE was assessed using Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE ) and then CT scan was performed with a 64 detector CT, including Ca Score and angiography of coronaries with iv contrast. Results: From 456 patients 61.4% were low risk and 32.9% were at intermediate risk according to SCORE. The prevalence of CAP diagnosed by CTAC was calculated as 55.7 % overall. Though the presence and severity of CAP increased significantly with the increase of SCORE, it was found to be 44.1% in the low risk patients and 80% in the intermediate risk group, with a presence of 17% and 25% of stenotic plaques ( >50%) respectively. Significant correlation was found between all traditional risk factors and CAP. Conclusion: Although a direct relation between the prevalence of CAP, risk factors and the related 10-year risk of fatal CVE was found, there was a significant prevalence of CAP in low –intermediate risk group with a considerable presence of stenotic lesions. Also 8.3% of patients with no risk factors and 18% of the patients with Ca score 0 had CAP in CT angiography, one resulting with severe stenosis. Our results suggest once more that CT angiography is a reliable, very accurate noninvasive technique for the diagnosis of early CAD, especially in the low-intermediate risk patients compared to the traditional evaluation schemes and Ca score, thus should be considered in this group as a diagnostic guide for optimal therapy planning .
Key words: CT angiography, coronary plaques, risk factors.
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