Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Plaque as a Predictor for Ischemic Etiology in Patients With Severe Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction

摘要

Background and ObjectivesCoronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of heart failure associated with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD). The prognosis of LVSD is significantly influenced by the etiology of heart failure and therefore, differentiation of significant CAD from other etiologies is important. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque are useful predictors for cardiovascular events, including stroke and CAD. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of carotid IMT and plaque for the diagnosis of CAD in LVSD patients.