Increased carotid intima-media thickness and low ankle brachial index in patients after acute myocardial infarction

Background: Increased intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries and the ankle–brachial pressure index (ABI) are generally considered an early marker of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of subjects with low ABI and an increased IMT as markers of atherosclerosis in a group of patients after myocardial infarction. Methods: The test group included 50 patients after myocardial infarction (AMI), 32 males and 18 females aged between 38 and 78 years. The control group consisted of 50 subjects without ischaemic heart disease, who were comparable to the test group by age, gender and place of residence. High-resolution ultrasonography for the non-invasive measurement of IMT on the far wall at three different sites of the carotid arteries (the common carotid artery, carotid bifurcation, and internal carotid artery) has been used. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) was diagnosed in the lower extremities by means of Doppler ultrasound (ABI