Background and Aims
Agatston coronary calcium scores (CAC) are associated with a high rate of coronary heart disease (CHD). We compared, in a multiethnic population, CAC in patients with ischemic stroke without symptomatic CHD caused by either
cervical carotid atherosclerosis or intracranial atherosclerosis (Groupatero)
to a control group of healthy individuals (Groupcont).

Methods
Cross-sectional study. Inclusion criteria: Age 45-80 years; Groupatero: symptomatic stenosis ≥ 50% in the cervical carotid artery or in an intracranial artery; Groupcont: no history of stroke or cervicocephalic stenosis ≥ 50%. Exclusion criteria: history of CHD, EKG with previous myocardial infarct, cardioaortic sources of emboli.
Frequencies of CAC >0 in each group will be compared with the chi-square
test.

Results
Until now, 359 subjects were screened, 72 were included in Groupatero, 40 in
Groupcont. 
CAC > were found in 84.7 % of subjects in Groupatero and 57.5% in Groupcont (p=0.001). Post-hoc analyzes with Mann-Whitney tests, with p-values corrected for multiple comparisons showed a significant difference for the comparison between the subgroup of patients with concomitant cervical carotid artery stenosis plus intracranial stenosis and the Groupcont (p = 0.006). 

Conclusions
Our data suggest that Brazilian patients without symptoms of CHD
who presented with stroke caused by atherosclerosis present a higher risk of
CHD than controls matched by sex and age.

SUBCLINICAL CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN SUBJECTS WITH ISCHEMIC STROKE CAUSED BY CERVICOCEPHALIC ATHEROTHROMBOSIS - PRELIMINARY RESULTS