We aimed to measure ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) and homocysteine levels, and to evaluate frequency of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and/or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) combination of patients with myocardial infarction (MI). 39 patients (26 males, 13 females) with acute or subacute MI and 36 control cases (9 male, 27 female) were included in the study. ABPI and homocysteine levels were measured, and bilateral carotid-vertebral and bilateral lower extremity arterial Doppler ultrasonography, and coronary angiography were examined. Homocysteine was significantly higher in patient group than control group (p=0.0001). The ABPI was not significantly different in two groups (p=0.428). However the frequency of patients with lower ABPI (≤0.9) was significantly higher compared to the frequency of control patients with lower ABPI (25.6% and 3%, respectively; p=0.02). The combination of the atherosclerotic findings in the carotid artery and coronary artery disease (CAD) were found significantly higher compared to that of the bilateral lower extremity (59%, 25.6%). Screening of CVD should be done in patients with MI history. Determining carotid arterial lesions may be useful for the early diagnosis and treatment of any possible CVD in cases with CAD. Studies with larger numbers of cases are needed.
Key words: myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, ankle-brachial pressure index, homocysteine, C reactive protein, fibrinogen
|
