Carotid Artery Longitudinal Displacement Predicts 1-Year Cardiovascular Outcome in Patients With Suspected Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

Objective—: Total longitudinal displacement (tLoD) of the common carotid artery can be measured using the ultrasound-based velocity vector imaging (VVI) technique. This study aimed to investigate clinical correlates and the possible predictive value of tLoD for cardiovascular outcome. Methods and Results—: Four hundred forty-one patients referred for myocardial perfusion scintigraphy examination for suspected coronary artery disease were recruited and underwent VVI-assisted tLoD measurement. Patients were followed up with regard to major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) 1 year later. Low tLoD (≤0.055 mm) was associated with greater clinically determined myocardial ischemia ( P 0.055 mm) predicted 1-year event-free survival ( P P =0.03). Finally, low tLoD provided additional predictive value in subjects with increased intima-media thickness. Conclusion—: VVI-derived tLoD seems to reflect cardiovascular status and predicts short-term event-free survival in medium- to high-risk patients. Finally, tLoD per se or in combination with intima-media thickness measurement may be a novel cardiovascular surrogate biomarker.