A 79-Year-Old Musician With Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Disease
- Louis R. Caplan, MD
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
Excerpt
Dr DALEY: Mr C, a 79-year-old married professional classical musician with a history of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease, was noted to have asymptomatic carotid bruits in March 1995. He is active as a teacher and performer. He is insured by Medicare and carries supplemental Medigap insurance.
In 1989, Mr C underwent coronary artery bypass grafting for progressive anginal symptoms. Angina recurred in December 1994, and cardiac catheterization revealed diffuse three-vessel coronary artery disease with patent grafts. In recent months his angina has abated with medical therapy.
His risk factors for atherosclerosis include a total cholesterol level of 6.18 mmol/L (239 mg/dL), a family history of coronary artery disease, and a history of smoking cigarettes 20 years ago. Current medications include amlodipine besylate, 5 mg daily; terazosin hydrochloride, 5 mg daily, for mild symptoms of prostatic hypertrophy; and one enteric coated aspirin daily. Hypercholesterolemia is managed by diet, although until
Footnotes
-
Dr Caplan is Professor and Chair of Neurology at Tufts University and the New England Medical Center, Boston, Mass.
-
This conference took place at the Neurology Grand Rounds of the Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, Mass, on July 18, 1995.
-
Reprint requests to Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Hospital, 330 Brookline Ave, LY339, Boston, MA 02215 (Ms Walzer).
-
Clinical Crossroads at Boston's Beth Israel Hospital is produced and edited by Thomas L. Delbanco, MD, and Jennifer Daley, MD; Janet Walzer, MEd, is managing editor. Clinical Crossroads section editor: Margaret A. Winker, MD, Senior Editor, JAMA.
