Predictors of Statin‐Induced Regression of Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery Wall Thickness as Measured by High‐Resolution Transthoracic Echocardiography

The growing need for coronary evaluation has raised interest in non-radioactive, non-invasive monitoring systems. In particular, radiation exposure during coronary investigations has been shown to be a possible cause of an enhanced risk of secondary tumors. Literature search has indicated that transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) has been widely applied to coronary arteries up to 2003, following which the lack of adequate equipment and the increased availability of invasive diagnostics, has reduced interest in this low cost, low-risk technology. The more recent availability of newer, more sensitive machines, allows evaluation of a larger number of arterial trees, including the aorta in newborns, the prenatal aortic intima-media thickness, as well as the detection of coronary artery anomalies in the adult. Improved technology for this highly operator sensitive technique may thus predict a possible evolution toward the clinical diagnostics of coronary disease and, eventually, also of the progression/regression of disease. We sought to evaluate the present status of this seldom quoted non-invasive technology.

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“…The same Authors also evaluated LAD IMT after statin treatment. Follow-up of treatment did not indicate, however, a clear benefit [ 28 ].…”

Section: Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Status and potential clinical value of a transthoracic evaluation of the coronary arteries

Labombarda

Castelnuovo

Goularas

et al. 2015

Cardiovasc Ultrasound

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Coronary Artery Wall Thickness of the Left Anterior Descending Artery Using High Resolution Transthoracic Echocardiography – Normal Range of Values

et al. 2013

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Recently it has been demonstrated that high resolution transthoracic echocardiography (HRTTE) is able to detect differences in the wall thickness of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) between patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and normal volunteers. We sought to validate this technique, develop a normal range of values and demonstrate the test-retest variability of each measurement. Two hundred forty-two volunteer participants had a HRTTE study to measure their LAD wall thickness, luminal, and external diameters. Thirty of these subjects had these measurements taken on 3 separate occasions by 2 different echosonographers. All subjects were free of clinical CAD, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. The average anterior wall thickness was 1.1 ± 0.2 mm; posterior wall thickness was 1.1 ± 0.2 mm, luminal diameter 2.2 ± 0.6 mm, and external elastic membrane (EEM) diameter 4.5 ± 0.9 mm. The bias of the measurements within the same operator for LAD wall thickness, luminal diameter, and EEM was 0.042, -0.06, and -0.077 mm, respectively. The bias of the measurements between 2 different operators for LAD wall thickness, luminal diameter, and EEM was 0.082, -0.077, and -0.027 mm, respectively. In conclusion, HRTTE measurement of the LAD vessel is reproducible within and between operators in normal volunteers. This technique therefore warrants further study as a potential screening modality for subclinical coronary atherosclerosis.

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Predictors of Statin‐Induced Regression of Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery Wall Thickness as Measured by High‐Resolution Transthoracic Echocardiography

Cited by 2 publications

References 14 publications

Status and potential clinical value of a transthoracic evaluation of the coronary arteries

Status and potential clinical value of a transthoracic evaluation of the coronary arteries

Coronary Artery Wall Thickness of the Left Anterior Descending Artery Using High Resolution Transthoracic Echocardiography – Normal Range of Values

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