Xihai Zhao1, Huilin Zhao2, Ye Cao2,
Jinnan Wang3, Niranjan Balu1, Jianrong Xu2,
Chuan Yuan1
1Radiology, University of Washington,
Seattle, WA, United States; 2Radiology, Shanghai Renji hospital,
Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China; 33. Philips Research North America,
Atherosclerosis
is a systemic disease frequently involving multiple vascular territories,
such as carotid artery and thoracic aorta, which are related to
cerebrovascular events. Thus, atherosclerotic disease in one vascular bed may
be an indicator for the other vasculatures. This study sought to determine
the association between carotid artery and thoracic aorta atherosclerosis
using MR black-blood vessel wall imaging in 26 symptomatic patients. We found
that carotid artery plaque burden, particularly on left side, was
significantly associated with that of descending aorta. Our findings suggest
that atherosclerotic disease in carotid artery may be an indicator of
thoracic atheroma, or vice versa.