The Ultrasonography And Analysis Of Risk Factors Of Carotid Artery Plaque

Objective: The highly dangerous patients with carotid artery plaque were examined by color doppler ultrasonography. The aim of the present study was to assess the normal value of intima-media thickness(IMT) and its effective factors, the effect of hemodynaminc factors on the formation and process of carotid artery atherosclerosis, the risk factors of carotid artery atherosclerosis. Also, attempt to screen out lesion indexes that related to carotid artery atherosclerosis.Methods: To study the intima-media thickness(IMT), carotid plaque and the index changing of the blood flow status, the bilateral carotid arteries were detected with the use of a HP5500 color doppler ultrasonography both 130 patients and 60 subjects of normal-control group.Results: In group A, the carotid arteries IMT was 0.605mm±0.152mm. Carotid IMT increased with age. In group B, the occurrence rate of carotid atherosclerosis plaques in male group was higher than female group(P<0.05); Most plaque was flat type, some was soft plaque and hard plaque, few was ulcer plaque, the carotid atherosclerosis plaques were common in the bifurcation. In group C, the occurrence rate of carotid atherosclerosis plaques in male group was higher than female group(P<0.05); Most plaque was hard type, some was flat plaque and soft plaque, none was ulcer plaque; Carotid atherosclerosis plaques were common in the bifurcation. The indexes of ultrasonography(SPV, EDV and SR) in group B and C were decreased than group A(P<0.05), while IMT increased(P<0.05), and for the RI, there were not significant differences among the group A, B and C(P>0.05). The plaque type was different between group B and group C(P<0.05). The risk factors of carotid artery atherosclerosis were male sex, age, systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, smoking index, TC and TG. Conclusions: Ultrasonography provided a accurate method to detect carotid artery atherosclerosis plaque, the normal value of IMT was 0.605±0.152mm; IMT≥1.2mm may be defined as plaque. Shear stress was an important hemodynaminc factor in the formation and process of carotid artery atherosclerosis. The risk factors of carotid artery atherosclerosis were male sex, age, systolic blood pressure, smoking index, TC and TG. The increased IMT, higher occurrence rate of flat plaque and hard plaque and the decreased EDV were valuable indexes of carotid artery atherosclerosis that related to the highly dangerous patients.