Evaluation Of Common Carotid Artery Elasticity In Patients With Cerebral Infarction By Two-dimensional Speckle Tracking Imaging

ObjectiveThe study is to evaluate the changes of the common carotid artery elasticity in patients with cerebral infarction(CI) by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI), combined with conventional two-dimensiona ultrasound. To assess the clinical values of common carotid artery elasticity function by 2D-STI in CI.MethodsLeft common carotid artery images were collected in 30 cases of cerebral infarction patients and compared with those of 30 cases of normal. Intima-media thickness of away 1~1.5cm from the left common carotid artery swelling were measured, and at the same time observed whether the formation of plaque by two-dimensional conventional ultrasound mode; the end-systolic vessel diameter, end-diastolic vessel diamete of away 1~1.5cm from the left common carotid artery swelling were obtained by M-mode ultrasound mode, andβstiffness index was calculated according to the formula; peak systolic circumferential strain and mCS were acquaired by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging. Analyzed the correlation among intima-medial thickness,βstiffness index and mCS.Results1,Comparison of general information: the gender and age between the two groups were no significant difference(P﹥0.05); the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were higer than the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05);2,Comparison of the measured values of two-dimensional routine ultrasound and M mode:①The intima of left common carotid artery of the experimental group were rough and discontinuity, and the intima-media thickness (IMT) of away 1~1.5cm from the left common carotid artery swelling were thickened than the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05);②Left common carotid artery of 18 cases subjects in the experimental group, formed plaques, in which 6 cases were single, 12 cases were multiple, and the plaques were low- echo, high-echo, mix-echo;③M-mode ultrasound showed that comparison of Ds, Dd,△D of away 1~1.5cm from the left common carotid artery swelling in both groups were no significant differences(P﹥0.05)④βstiffness index of the experimental group were higher than the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05);3,Comparison of the measured values by STI between the two groups: The CSAW, CSAMW, CSPLW, CSPW, CSPMW, CSPPW and mCS of the experimental group were lower than the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01);4,Correlation among intima-medial thickness,βstiffness index and circumferential strain:①βstiffness index and IMT of the control group were positively correlated (r=0.52, P<0.01);βstiffness index and IMT of the experimental group were no correlation;②CS andβstiffness index of the two groups were negative correlation(r1=-0.51, r2=-0.42, P<0.01);③CS and IMT of the two groups were negative correlation (r1=-0.78,r2=-0.86,P<0.01).Conclusions1,The common carotid artery elasticity in patients with cerebral infarction decrease. 2,The evaluation of arterial elasticity approach can reflect the changes of the common carotid artery elasticity in patients with cerebral infarction according two-dimensional strainvalues, being in this respect superior to the conventional measures of vascular stiffness.