Breast arterial calcifications and carotid intima-media thickness and haemodynamics: Is there any association?

• Published in: Anatolian journal of cardiology 2014-06, Vol.14 (4), p.378
• Main Authors: Büyükkaya, Ramazan, Büyükkaya, Ayla, Altunkas, Aysegül, Erdogmus, Besir, Yazici, Burhan, Öztürk, Beyhan, Yazgan, Ömer, Ankarali, Handan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2149-2263; 2149-2271

In this study, we aimed to research the relation between breast arterial calcifications (BACs) detected on mammography and two well-known markers of cardiovascular diseases-carotid artery intima-media thickness (C-IMT) and haemodynamics parameters like carotid peak-systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistive index (RI). The study group consisted of 50 consecutive BAC (+) women and the control group consisted of 55 BAC (-) women. In all participants, BAC was diagnosed using mammography and C-IMT was measured using B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography. BAC was defined as two linear calcification depositions in a conical periphery or as calcific rings at the mammographic evaluation. Doppler spectrum samples were obtained from 2 cm proximal to the main carotid artery bifurcation. Postmenopausal female patients ranging in age from 40 to 86 included in this study. When the groups were adjusted for age, a statistically significant difference was found between mean C-IMT of BAC (+) and BAC (-) groups (0.81 ± 0.2 vs. 0.69 ± 0.2 mm; p