Common Carotid Artery Resistive Index Research Articles

The Association of Carotid Plaque Size, Carotid Intima-Media Thickness, Resistive Index, and Pulsatility Index With Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Carotid atherosclerosis is an important etiological factor for ischemic stroke. Early carotid lesion detection may prevent further strokes. Doppler ultrasound measures carotid artery blood flow, intima-media thickness, stenosis, plaques, and lumen and wall changes. The objective of this study is to determine the association of carotid plaque size (CPS), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), resistive index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) with acute ischemic stroke. A total of 60 participants were taken, including 30 cases and 30 age- and sex-matched controls. Patients with acute ischemic stroke were included as cases and age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were included as controls. A carotid duplex study was done in both groups, and the findings were compared. The mean age of the ischemic stroke cases was 63.33±10.79 years; more than half were aged >60 years. Male patients were 73.3% and female patients were 26.7% of the cases. Age and gender were statistically similar (p>0.05) in groups (cases and controls). The plaques were homogenous in 30% of patients, calcified in 26.7%, and mixed in 6.7%. About 36.6% of patients did not have any plaque.CPS was greater among cases than controls in the right and left internal and left common carotid arteries; however, it was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The mean CIMT was 0.79±0.10 mm on the right side and 0.90±0.17 mm on the left side among cases. CIMT was significantly higher in the cases group than in the controls (p<0.05). The mean RI was significantly greater in the left common carotid artery (CCA) among the cases than in the controls (p<0.05). Patients aged over 60 years had significantly higher RI and PI values in the left internal carotid artery (ICA) compared to the younger cases (p<0.05). Smoking history had a significant association with left CCA RI and PI values (p<0.05). However, RI, PI, CPS, and CIMT among cases were similar in different groups like diabetic, non-diabetic, hypertensive, and non-hypertensive patients (p>0.05). CIMT was significantly thicker among the patients with ischemic stroke compared to the control group. RI in the left CCA was significantly greater among the stroke patients than in the control group. The age of the patient and smoking habithad an association with RI and PI values. Most of the parameters were found to be significant on the left side, suggesting carotid atherosclerosis may not be symmetrical. A large-scale further study is needed to see the association of these variables with ischemic stroke patients.

ДИНАМИКА ПОКАЗАТЕЛЕЙ УЛЬТРАЗВУКОВОЙ ДОПЛЕРОГРАФИИ АРТЕРИЙ НИЖНИХ КОНЕЧНОСТЕЙ И ГОЛОВНОГО МОЗГА ВО ВРЕМЯ ВЫПОЛНЕНИЯ СТАТОЭРГОМЕТРИЧЕСКОЙ ПРОБЫ

The paper contains analysis of Doppler ultrasonography data (Doppler US) from the leg and brain arteries of 52 Vietnamese male pilots and 15 Russian male pilots during the static ergometric test (Statoergometre machine). The subjects' age varied between 19 and 27 years. The measured parameters included peak systolic velocity (Vps) and resistive index (RI) of the popliteal (PA) and superficial femoral (SFA) arteries in the right leg, and common carotid artery (CCA) before, during and after testing. Results of the investigation evidenced that static strain in leg muscles during the test causes constriction in a segment distal from the superficial femoral artery confirmed by decreased Vps and increased RI in SFA and increased Vps and stable RI in PA. Under the head-to-pelvis g-loads, the static muscle strain is liable to impede blood pooling in leg muscles. Decreases of CCA Vps and RI due to the static muscle strain in consequence of, probably, vasodilatation in the brain, will be favorable to blood redistribution toward the head at the time of g-load. There was no reliable difference in doppler US data between the Vietnamese and Russian pilots.

Ultrasound Proven Monosodium Urate Crystal Deposits in the Joints are Associated with Smaller Kidney Size, Decreased Intrarenal Blood Flow and Arteriosclerotic Type Vascular Changes

Abstract Objective: To establish the association between ultrasound (US) burden with articular MSU crystals and renal morphology, blood supply, function and arteriosclerotic carotid arteries alterations in gout patients, individuals with asymptomatic hyperuricemia and no sign of inflammatory arthritis and psoriatic arthritis subjects with asymptomatic hyperuricemia. Methods: 121 consecutive patients were included: 85 patients with gout, 27 subjects with asymptomatic hyperuricemia and 9 psoriatic arthritis patients. Subjects underwent US of both kidneys, common carotid arteries and bilateral US of the joints of the hands, elbows, knees, ankles and feet. For intrarenal blood flow we judged by measuring the renal resistive index (RRI). By US of the carotid arteries were determined intima-media thickness (IMT), common carotid artery resistive index (CCARI) and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques was registered. Results: Individuals with articular US MSU deposits compared to those without had higher RRI (p = 0.035) and smaller kidney size (p = 0.014), but renal parenchymal thickness (p = 0.893), echogenicity (p = 0.291), IMT (p = 0.165), CCARI (p = 0.097), the frequency of nephrolithiasis (p = 0.438) and atherosclerotic plaques (p = 0.830) were similar. Subjects with US evidence of MSU crystals in two or more joint regions had the highest RRI (p = 0.002) and CCARI (p = 0.019). Compared to gout patients the risk of MSU crystal accumulation in the joints of asymptomatic hyperuricemia group was lower by 82.7%, OR = 0.173 (95% CI; 0.060 – 0.498, p = 0.001), while in psoriatic arthritis patients the risk was lower by 82%, OR = 0.180 (95% CI; 0.038-0.861, p = 0.032). Conclusions: This study points out that subjects with larger extent of articular MSU burden have greater vascular stiffness. The accumulation of MSU crystals in the joints may be associated with the accumulation of crystals mainly in the renal interstitium.

Serum Oxidative Stress Markers are not Associated with Renal and Common Carotid Arteries Arteriosclerotic Vascular Changes in Patients with Gout

Abstract Objective: To establish the association between serum levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) products, nitric oxide (NO) radicals and ascorbate radicals with renal resistive index (RRI), common carotid artery resistive index (CCARI) and intima-media thickness (IMT) in gout patients, and to find out whether the connection is more pronounced when tophi are present. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 71 consecutive gout patients, divided into two groups according to the presence of subcutaneous tophi. Serum concentrations of ROS products, NO radicals and ascorbate radicals were determined by ex vivo electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) study. RRI was measured in both kidneys at the level of interlobar arteries with 3.5 MHz transducer. By applying ultrasound of the common carotid arteries, conducted with 10 MHz linear transducer CCARI and IMT were measured. Results: Gouty arthritis without tophi and gouty tophi subjects were age-matched. Serum uric acid and distribution of conventional cardiovascular risk factors was equal in the groups. However, in tophi patients CRP and the number of individuals who had suffered a cardiovascular event were higher. In the two stages of the disease serum levels of ROS products, NO radicals, ascorbate radicals, as well as RRI and CCARI were comparable but intima-media was thicker in gouty tophi. Serum concentrations of ROS products, NO radicals and ascorbate radicals did not correlate with RRI, CCARI and IMT. Among untreated and treated with Allopurinol or Febuxostat patients the means of ROS products, NO radicals, ascorbate radicals, RRI, CCARI and IMT were similar. Conclusions: In the earlier and advanced stage of the disease we found no difference in oxidative stress level but the degree of inflammation was higher in tophi subjects. No connection was established between serum ROS products, NO radicals and ascorbate radicals with renal and carotid arteries arteriosclerotic vascular changes. We suggest that in gout individuals intrinsic inflammation has a leading role in the process of atherogenesis.

Cardiovascular Risk in Type 2 Diabetic Patients With Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia and Gout

Abstract Aim: To study the differences in cardiovascular risk between type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia and gout using the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and complex multimodal ultrasonography. Patients and methods: A total of 201 patients participated, divided into two groups: 1/ patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia (n = 52), and 2/ patients with gout (n = 149). FRS was determined as well as ultrasound parameters, independent predictors of cardiovascular risk: left atrial size (LA), intima-media thickness (IMT) and common carotid artery resistive index (CCARI). Results: The patients in the two groups were age-matched and conventional cardiovascular risk factors were equally distributed. In the asymptomatic hyperuricemia group, 12 patients (23.1%) had diabetes. In this group, there was no difference in FRS between diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. However, diabetic patients had larger LA, thicker intima-media and higher CCARI. In the gout group 18 subjects (12%) had diabetes, but the FRS, LA, IMT and CCARI values were similar among diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Furthermore, when gout subjects were subdivided according to the presence of tophi, we found that the subgroup having gouty tophi and diabetes had larger LA (p = 0.014) compared to those with gouty tophi without diabetes. Conclusion: In diabetic patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia and gouty tophi, a more complex approach for estimation of cardiovascular risk is needed. Our work suggests that diabetes and tophi might potentiate their action on the cardiovascular system.

Evaluation of cardiovascular risk in stages of gout by a complex multimodal ultrasonography.

The aim of our work was to assess ultrasound features of cardiovascular (CV) risk in stages of gout. Cross-sectional complex multimodal ultrasound study of 169 age-matched patients, with similar distribution of arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity and chronic renal failure, was divided into four groups: 41 with asymptomatic hyperuricemia, 52 gout without tophi, 42 gouty tophi and 34 controls with osteoarthritis. Parameters independently associated with CV risk were measured: renal resistive index (RRI), left ventricular mass index (LVMi), mitral annulus early diastolic velocity (e'), intima-media thickness (IMT) and common carotid artery resistive index (CCARI). Multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of gout stages and CV risk factors on ultrasound alterations. Gouty tophi increased the risk of having IMT >0.90mm with an OR 11.51 (95% CI 2.32-57.21, p=0.003), gout without tophi raised the risk with an OR 6.25 (95% CI 1.37-28.44, p=0.018), while asymptomatic hyperuricemia had no effect on IMT. The category of CCARI >0.70 was influenced by tophi with an OR 11.18 (95% CI 2.61-47.83, p=0.001) and by arterial hypertension with an OR 3.22 (95% CI 1.11-9.36, p=0.032). Neither asymptomatic hyperuricemia nor gout without tophi modified the development of abnormally high CCARI. Gout stages had no impact on LVMi, e' and RRI. Tophi are related to worsened ultrasonographic parameters evaluating target organs in gout, relative to earlier stages of the disease. They create a strong risk of carotid arteries' changes even beyond arterial hypertension.

Ultrasonographic measurement of carotid artery resistive index and diastolic function of the heart in gout patients.

The aim of the study was to establish the functional disorder in the blood circulation of gout patients with a method that shows early damage of the heart and vascular structures. A total of 117 patients were examined cross-sectionally by a complex multimodal ultrasonography and were divided into four groups: 37 healthy controls, 24 asymptomatic hyperuricemia, 36 gout without tophi and 20 gouty tophi. With pulsed Doppler, common carotid artery resistive index (CCARI) and parameters of the transmitral blood flow were determined: the ratio between maximal early and late flow velocities (E/A ratio) and deceleration time (DT). With tissue Doppler imaging, mitral annular peak velocity (Em) was obtained. In the examined ultrasonographic parameters between healthy controls and the three patient groups, there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.001). Comparing asymptomatic hyperuricemia and gout without tophi, no significant difference in CCARI (p=0.656), E/A ratio (p=0.472), DT (p=0.990) and Em (p=0.488) was found. Gouty tophi in comparison with gout without tophi and asymptomatic hyperuricemia had significantly lower Em (mean±SD 0.07±0.02 vs 0.09±0.03 vs 0.13±0.17) and significantly higher CCARI (mean±SD 0.74±0.05 vs 0.70±0.05 vs 0.69±0.05). Further multiple logistic regression revealed that tophi increased subject's likelihood of having category of CCARI≥0.7 with an OR=10.91 (95% CI 1.80-66.14, p=0.009), while the category of Em<0.08m/s was influenced by renal insufficiency with an OR=3.07 (95% CI 1.17-8.02, p=0.022). Gouty tophi are associated with progression of arteriosclerotic-type vessel changes. Worsening of diastolic dysfunction of the heart is independently associated with renal insufficiency. In terms of CV risk, tophi are an indicator of its increase.

Adipokines, inflammation, insulin resistance, and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

IntroductionCardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality are increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Inflammation is thought to be an important factor in accelerated atherosclerosis in RA, whereas insulin resistance is a known risk factor for atherosclerosis in RA. We hypothesised that adipokines could be a link between inflammation, insulin resistance, and atherosclerosis in RA.MethodsThe common carotid artery (CCA) intima-media thickness (IMT), CCA resistive index (RI), and carotid plaques were measured by ultrasonography in 192 patients with RA. Insulin resistance was assessed by the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Serum adiponectin, leptin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations were determined.ResultsThe CCA RI was associated with CCA IMT and the estimated total plaque volume after adjustment for conventional CV risk factors. Among adipokines, resistin and IL-6 were correlated with inflammatory parameters. Leptin and leptin:adiponectin (L:A) ratio were correlated with metabolic risk factors, including HOMA-IR. And L:A ratio was related to the CCA RI after adjustment for conventional and nonconventional CV risk factors, including HOMA-IR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein.ConclusionL:A ratio was associated with HOMA-IR and carotid RI. L:A ratio might be an independent factor for predicting cardiovascular risk in patients with RA.

Common carotid artery resistive index – renal failure influence

Objective: We evaluate the relationship between carotid hemodynamics and parameters for renal function deterioration as well as the connection between common carotid artery (CCA) resistive index (RI) and target organ damage in hypertensive patients with chronic renal failure (CRF).

Common Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness Determinants in a Population Study

Common carotid artery (CCA) intima-media thickness (IMT) is considered an atherosclerosis risk marker. Thickening of the intima-media complex is accelerated by vascular risk factors, in particular, by age and elevated blood pressure. Nonetheless, it also reflects intimal hyperplasia and intimal fibrocellular hypertrophy provoked by nonatherosclerotic mechanisms such as tensile wall stress. The aims of our study were to investigate the relationship between CCA IMT and the presence of vascular risk factors and to correlate CCA IMT with the degree of distal internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis and the proximal CCA resistive index (RI), representative of wall stress. We assessed CCA IMT, the CCA RI, and the presence of carotid plaques in 1655 consecutive patients. Demographic features and vascular risk factors were collected. A positive linear relationship between mean IMT and age was observed (R(2) = 0.27; P < .001). In the multiple stepwise regression model, the presence of ICA plaques and vascular risk factors were all independently associated with higher IMT. When considering IMT values for left and right sides separately, there was an independent relationship between CCA IMT and the lateralized percentage of ICA stenosis (right IMT-right ICA percentage, R(2) = 0.10; P < .0001; left IMT-left ICA percentage, R(2) = 0.16; P < .0001) and the CCA RI, even after correcting for age and vascular risk factors. Risk factors for atherosclerosis and the percentage of ICA stenosis were independently associated with higher IMT values and an increase in the RI. The synergic action of risk factors may cause further deterioration of mechanical forces independent of carotid atherosclerosis.