BACKGROUND: Quantification of coronary artery calcified plaques by electron-beam CT (EBCT) may predict @entity65 . However, whereas advanced coronary atherosclerotic plaques can be identified, mildly stenotic lipid-rich (soft) plaques may be difficult to detect. The value of EBCT in a subgroup of @entity1 has therefore been questioned. To investigate this, we evaluated @entity1 with @entity1187 by EBCT and compared the results with coronary angiography and, in @entity1 with an indeterminate angiogram, intracoronary ultrasound (ICUS). METHODS AND RESULTS: EBCT was performed in 118 consecutive @entity1 (57+/-11 years of age) with previous @entity583 (n=101) or @entity1459 (n=17). A standard protocol requiring a CT density >130 Hounsfield units in an area > or =1.03 mm2 was used for the definition of coronary artery @entity460 . We found that 110 @entity1 had moderate to severe @entity453 by coronary angiography, and 8 had either mildly stenotic plaques at a single site (4 @entity1 , confirmed by ICUS) or nonatherosclerotic causes of the unstable coronary syndrome (4 @entity1 ). One hundred and five of the 110 @entity1 (96%) with moderate to severe @entity66 but only 1 of the 8 other @entity1 (13%) had a positive EBCT. @entity1 with @entity1187 and negative EBCTs were significantly younger than @entity1 with positive EBCTs (46+/-12 versus 58+/-10 years, P<.001), and a higher percentage was actively smoking (100% of the smokers versus 46%, P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The vast majority of @entity1 with @entity1187 and at least moderate @entity66 have identifiable coronary @entity460 by EBCT. Those @entity1 with negative EBCTs have minimal or no @entity731 formation. They are younger and tend to be active cigarette smokers.

Coronary artery XXXX in @entity1187 : a comparative study of electron-beam computed tomography, coronary angiography, and intracoronary ultrasound in survivors of acute @entity583 and @entity1459 .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity1187 :: ('MESH:D054058', 'Disease') :: ['acute coronary syndromes'] @entity66 :: ('MESH:D004194', 'Disease') :: ['angiographic disease'] @entity731 :: ('MESH:D050197', 'Disease') :: ['atherosclerotic plaque'] @entity1459 :: ('MESH:D000789', 'Disease') :: ['unstable angina'] @entity453 :: ('MESH:D003324', 'Disease') :: ['coronary artery disease'] @entity460 :: ('MESH:D002118', 'Chemical') :: ['calcium'] @entity583 :: ('MESH:D009203', 'Disease') :: ['myocardial infarction'] @entity65 :: ('MESH:D002318', 'Disease') :: ['cardiovascular events']
@entity460 :: (MESH:D002118,Chemical) :: ['calcium']
