Evaluation Of Carotid Elasticity In Abdominal Obesity Patients By Echo Tracking Technique

Objective: To evaluate the effect of abdominal obesity to carotid elasticity by echotracking (ET) technique. We can analyze the change of carotid elasticity before theintima-media thickness (IMT) is higher than normal.This may provide a theoreticalbase for screening the people who are in danger of cardiovascular disease such asatherosclerosis.Methods: The60patients who were in hospital or had a physical examination atfriendship hospital of dalian during the period from April of2011to November of2011were included. There were33male patients and27female patients, aged23-60yearsold. Their waist circumference and body mass index were recorded. According toGuideline for Overweight and Obesity Prevention and Control in Chinese Adults, Thecases were divided into two groups: abdominal obesity group and control group. Therewere30cases in both of the two groups. Prosound α-10color ultrasonic diagnosinginstrument produced by aloka corporation was used with ET technique programs.Patient lay in a supine position and had a rest for5minutes. Then we measured bloodpressure on both of the two arms. Their perirenal fat thickness (PRFT) and visceral fatthickness (VFT) were measured using a convex-array probe with the frequency of2.5-5MHz. The IMTs of common carotid artery and bifurcation of common carotid arterywere measured using a linear-array probe with the frequency of5-13MHz. ETtechnique was used to examine the parameters of carotid elasticity including stiffnessparameter(β), pressure-strain elastic modulus(Ep), arterial compliance(AC), augmentindex(AI) and pulse wave velocity(PWVβ). SPSS17.0software was used for statisticalanalysis. Independent-samples T test and Pearson correlation were used to analyze thedifference and correlation of statistical data.Results:(1) PRFT and VFT showed a significant positive correlation with waistcircumference. Compared with the control group，PRFT and VFT in the abdominal obesity group were significantly higher.(2) Positive correlation was observed betweenthe parameters of carotid elasticity β、Ep、PWVβ. AC showed negative correlation withβ、Ep、AI、PWVβ.(3) Compared with the control group, the IMTs of common carotidartery and bifurcation of common carotid artery、the elasticity parameters β、Ep andPWVβ in the abdominal obesity group were higher, AC was significantly lower. Nodifference of AI was found between the two groups.Conclusions: PRFT and VFT showed a significant correlation with AC and can beused as the reference index to evaluate abdominal obesity. ET technique parametersshowed the degradation of carotid elasticity in abdominal obesity patients. ET techniquecan reflect the change of carotid elasticity sensitively in abdominal obesity patients.