Coronary Artery and Carotid Artery Plaques in Patients With Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

BACKGROUND

Little is known regarding the formation of coronary and carotid plaques and their impact on cardiovascular disease in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine: 1) if the development of coronary and carotid plaques is correlated; and 2) if these plaques are associated with major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) defined as cardiovascular-related death, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, or staged revascularization.

METHODS

This was a retrospective review of 622 patients with heterozygous FH (HeFH) at Kanazawa University Hospital, assessed coronary and carotid plaque scores using coronary computed tomography and carotid ultrasound within 1 year. Spearman correlation coefficients were assessed among variables. Risk factors for MACEs were determined using the Cox proportional hazard model.

RESULTS

Coronary and carotid plaque scores were significantly correlated in patients with HeFH in both sexes (Spearman's r = 0.82; P < 0.001 in males and Spearman's r = 0.87; P < 0.001 in females). We observed 132 MACEs during the median follow-up of 13.2 years. These scores were significantly associated with the occurrence of MACE (HR: 3.33; 95% CI: 1.88-4.78; P < 0.001, HR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.28-3.20; P < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Coronary and carotid plaque scores were significantly correlated, and both were independently associated with MACEs. The assessments for coronary and/or carotid plaque are useful for further risk stratifications in patients with HeFH.