Evaluation of carotid artery elasticity in patients with hypertension using quantitative intima-media thickness and quantitative arterial stiffness technique

Abstract

Objective To explore the value of quantivtative intima-media thickness(QIMT) and quantitative arterial stiffness (QAS) technique on evaluating the elasticity of carotid artery in patients with essential hypertension.Methods One hundred and thirty-seven patients with primary hypertension were divided into two groups according with or without atherosclerotic plaques:hypertensive group without plaque (63 cases) and hypertensive group with plaque (74 cases),and 87 healthy aged subjects were selected as the control group.The intima media thickness (IMT) was tracted with QIMT software.The internal diameter (d),expansion (e),elastic coefficient α and β,compliance coefficient (CC),pulse wave velocity (PWV) and local systolic pressure (LOCPsys) were measured with QAS software.The differences of the parameters among the groups,and the relation with pressure and the correlation between the elastic indexs were analyzed.Results IMT,d,α,β,PWV and LOCPsys in hypertensive group increased,and CC decreased gradually with the lesion development of carotid aterial wall.There was difference in elastic indexs between the left and right carotid.The OR of α,β,PWV was comparatively large and the OR of β was the largest.There was positive relevance between the indexs of IMT,e,α,β,PWV,LOCPsys and systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure,and there was negative correlation between CC and systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure.The relevance between the elastic indexs was large.Conclusions The intima-media thickness of carotid increased gradually,and the elasticity decreased with the lesion development of carotid aterial wall in patients with hypertension.It can evaluate the arterial elasticity accurately and quantitavely using the QIMT and QAS technique. Key words: Ultrasonography; Hypertension; Carotid arteries; Elasticity