Correlation Between Coronary and Carotid Atherosclerotic Disease and Links With Clinical Outcomes

The relationship of the natural history of atherosclerosis between different vascular beds has not been well characterized. Determination and comparison of the relative rates of progression and extents of atherosclerosis in the coronary and carotid arterial trees may have major impacts on clinical research and clinical practice. Correlation between findings in the carotid and coronary circulations is an important scientific and clinical topic to address. Results from a well design study incorporating imaging technologies that currently represent the gold standards for the assessment of coronary and carotid artery plaque burden, will have potentially impact on clinical research and clinical practice.