This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Mario Lachat Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Google Scholar Articles by Stolzmann, P. Articles by Alkadhi, H. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Stolzmann, P. Articles by Alkadhi, H. Related Collections Cardiac - other Coronary disease Great vessels Related Article

The heart of patients with aortic aneurysms: evidence from cardiac computed tomography

^a Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, Zurich 8091, Switzerland
^b Department of Radiology, CHU Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
^c Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
^d Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands

*Corresponding author. Tel.: +41-44-255-1111; fax: +41-44-255-4443.

E-mail address: paul.stolzmann{at}usz.ch (P. Stolzmann).

To determine in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) the coronary calcium burden and prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in relation to cardiovascular risk factors, and to assess the left ventricular (LV) function using cardiac computed tomography (CT). Sixty consecutive patients (six females; 72.2±9.0 years) with AAA underwent dual-source CT calcium scoring and coronary angiography prior to AAA repair. In the 60 patients, the Framingham risk score (FRS) ranged from 5–43%. Twenty patients (33%) were at low, 16 (27%) at intermediate, and 24 (40%) at high risk for cardiovascular disease. The median Agatston score (AS) was 393 (0–3538). No significant correlation was found between AS and FRS (P=0.76). 846/851 coronary segments (99%) in 57/60 patients (95%) were depicted with a diagnostic image quality. Significant stenoses were found in 132/846 segments (16%) in 33/60 patients (55%). Five patients (8%) with significant coronary artery stenosis showed reduced LV function [ejection fraction (EF)<50%]. The extent of CAD was significantly correlated with AS (r=0.43, P<0.01), whereas no correlation was found for FRS (P=0.55). Cardiac CT is feasible in patients with AAA and allows for the assessment of coronary calcium, coronary stenoses, and LV function. The calcium burden and coronary stenoses assessment with cardiac CT provides incremental information beyond traditional cardiovascular risk factors alone.

Key Words: Coronary artery disease; Computed tomography; Coronary angiography; Aortic aneurysm

Related Article

eComment: Re: The heart of patients with aortic aneurysms: evidence from cardiac computed tomography

Leo A. Bockeria and Vladimir N. Makarenko
Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery 2009 9: 773-774. [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. A. Bockeria and V. N. Makarenko eComment: Re: The heart of patients with aortic aneurysms: evidence from cardiac computed tomography Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, November 1, 2009; 9(5): 773 - 774. [Full Text] [PDF]