Evaluation Of Carotid Elasticity In Obese Adolescents By Echo Tracking Technique

Objective: To investigate the impact of obesity to carotid elasticity of adolescents by Echo Tracking(ET) technique. This may provide a theoretical base for screening the people who are in danger of cardiovascular disease.Methods: The 76 adolescents who had a physical examination at friendship hospital of dalian during the period from June of 2013 to March of 2014 were included. There were 45 male and 31 female, aged 16 to 20 years old,the average of 18.18±1.18 years old. Record their waist circumference and body mass index(BMI). According to the diagnostic criteria of obesity proposed by the International Life Sciences Institute China Office China Working Group on Obesity, divided into two groups: obese group and normal control group. There were 38 cases in both of the two groups. Subjects lay in a supine position and had a rest for10 minutes. Then we measured blood pressure of the left arm. Prosound α-10 color ultrasonic diagnosing instrument produced by aloka corporation was used with ET technique programs.The IMTs of bifurcation near heart side 2cm of left common carotid artery were measured using a linear-array probe with the frequency of 5-13 MHz. ET technique was used to examine the parameters of carotid artery including :stiffness parameter(β), pressure-strain elastic modulus(Ep), arterial compliance(AC), augment index(AI) and pulse wave velocity(PWVβ). The subjects’ liver were scanned using a convex-array probe with the frequency of 2.5-5 MHz, in order to determine whether subjects had fatty liver according to the size, shape, echo of liver.Results: ① Compared with the normal control group,IMT、β、 Ep、AI and PWVβ in obese group were higher, AC in obese group were lower, the difference was statisticallysignificant. ② In obese group, male and female compared, β、Ep and PWVβ of male were higher than female, AC were lower than female, the difference was statistically significant,while AI of male and female have no statistically significant. ③Waist circumference(WC)、body mass index(BMI) and fatty liver showed positive correlation with Ep、β、PWVβ, with AC showed negative correlation, but with AI were no significant correlation.Conclusion: ET technique can sensitively and accurately reflect the early arterial elasticity function change; Obese adolescents’ carotid artery elasticity had decreased, but not present morphological structure change.