Elasticity Of Carotid Artery In Hypertensive Patients Determined By The Echo-Tracking Technique Following Drug Intervention

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of the echo tracking(ET) technique in determining the carotid intima-media thickness(IMT) and the carotid artery elasticity in hypertensive (HBP) patients with different courses following drug therapy.MethodsWith the ET technique,the carotid IMT,β,Ep,AC,AI and PWVβof HBP patients were calculated pre- and post-treatment.Total of 124 HBP cases were divided into two groups:the short-course group(≤1 year,57 cases) and the long-course group(＞1 year,67 cases).Another 44 healthy adults served as the controls.The parameters were compared between the control group and the HBP group,between the short-course group and the long-course group as well as between pre-treatment group and post-treatment group.ResultsCompared with the control group,the IMT,β,Ep,AC,AI and PWVβwere different in HBP patients before drug treatment.After drug intervention,the levels of IMT,β,Ep,PWVβwere decreased and AC was increased significantly in the HBP groups(P＜0.05),and these changes were expressed significantly in the short-course group except IMT.There was no difference of AI in HBP patients before and after the drug intervention(P＞0.05).Compared between the long-course group and the short-course group,the changes of IMT pre- and post-treatment was no difference(P＞0.05).Conclusions1,Both the short-course group and the long-course group,hypertensive patients have a carotid damage.Drug intervention can not only decrease and stabilize hypertensive patients' blood pressure,but also can improve the elasticity of their carotid arteries.2,Drug intervention improves the carotid elasticity of HBP patients,and the earlier,the better,which can be shown by the ET technique.3,Evaluating the changes of the elasticity of HBP's carotid arteries before and after drug intervention,ET technique is superior to IMT measurement.