1038 Magnetic resonance evaluation of the associations of thoracic and abdominal aortic plaques with the presense and extent of coronary artery stenosis

The association between coronary artery disease (CAD) and thoracic aortic plaques has often been reported using transesophageal echocardiography. However, studies showing the association between CAD and abdominal aortic plaques are scarce. CMR can visualize plaques in both the thoracic and abdominal aortas. Using CMR, we investigated the associations of thoracic and abdominal aortic plaques with the presence and extent of coronary artery stenosis in 146 patients undergoing coronary angiography, of whom 108 had CAD. The prevalence of thoracic and abdominal aortic plaques was higher in patients with CAD than in those without CAD (73% and 94% vs. 32% and 79%, p 50% and > 25% stenotic coronary segments (rs = 0.30 and 0.41). Plaque extent in the abdominal aorta also correlated with ...