[Severe carotid artery stenosis in the neck is frequently associated with coronary heart disease].

We have reviewed 15 cases of carotid artery stenosis in the neck, consisting of 11 patients with cerebral ischemia and 4 asymptomatic patients, in relation to associated coronary heart disease. The 15 patients had systemic complications, including hypertension in 87%, diabetes mellitus in 40% and hyperlipidemia in 57%. Systemic vascular complications other than coronary heart disease were present in 27% of the patients. Three of the 15 patients had a history of ischemic heart disease and had been treated by cardiologists. One patient developed angina pectoris on the second day of a cerebral ischemic attack. Coronary angiography (CAG) and simultaneous cerebral angiography following carotid endartectomy (CEA) were performed 4 of the remaining 12 patients, who had symptoms or history of ischemic heart attacks. Three of these four patients had stenotic lesions in their coronary arteries. Another one patient among the remaining 8 developed angina pectoris one year after undergoing CEA. This patient had 3-vessel coronary artery disease. These findings suggest that a strong correlation between stenotic lesions of the carotid arteries in the neck and coronary heart disease, with or without episodes of ischemic heart disease. CAG should be strongly recommended in such patients to assess the severity of complicating ischemic heart disease and to improve the prognosis following CEA.