Evaluation Of Carotid Artery Elasticity In Patients With SVD By Ultrasound Radio-frequency Data Technique

Objective To observe the characteristic changes of the structure and the elasticparameters of the common carotid artery in cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) byultrasound radio-frequency(RF) data technique. To explore the worthy of RFultrasound to estimate the changes in carotid artery structure and function of SVD.Methods50patients with SVD and53age-and sex-matched normal subjectswere enrolled in this study. All patients received ultrasound RF-data techniqueexamination on the carotid artery. The following structure and elastic parameterswere obtained: intima-media thickness (IMT), compliance coefficient(CC), stiffnessparameter(α), stiffness parameter(β), pulse wave velocity (PWV). Compare thestructure and function parameters of carotid artery in the two groups and comparethe structure and function parameters of carotid artery in the left side and the rightside respectively. Use the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis thesensitivity and specificity of IMT, CC, α, β and PWV, and the power of the tests todetect SVD.Results1. In SVD group, SBP, DBP, PP were higher than those in the control group, thedifferences were statistically significant (p <0.001).2. IMT, α, β, PWV are higher in the SVD group than those in the control group inboth left side and right side; Contrarily, CC is lower in the SVD group, thedifferences were statistically significant (p <0.05).3. IMT in the left side was larger than the right side for the SVD group and the control group, the difference was statistically significant (p <0.05). while CC, α, β,PWV in both side have no significant difference statistically (p>0.05).4. According to ROC analysis, when PP≤45mmHg, the areas under the ROC curvesof PWV, β, IMT are PWV> β> IMT, when PP>45mmHg, the areas under the ROCcurves of IMT、α、β、PWV are PWV> β> α> IMT.Conclusion1. Carotid artery intima-media thickness of SVD patients is thicker, and the arterialelasticity is lower than the age-matched healthy population.2. The left side and right side of carotid artery intima-media thickness is differentboth in SVD patients and the control group, so it should be studied separately.3. ROC analysis showed that, PWV, β, IMT have high value in the diagnosis of SVD,and α has high diagnostic value only when PP>45mmHg. RF ultrasound can detectthe early changes of carotid structure and elasticity, is expected to become a simple,effective method for monitoring atherosclerosis and screening SVD.