超声技术评价颈动脉不稳定斑块与阿托伐他汀治疗的研究

目的：探讨阿托伐他汀对颈动脉不稳定斑块的影响机制。方法：60例入选患者随机分成治疗组和对照组。两组患者同时提供饮食、运动处方。治疗组另给予阿托伐他汀每日20mg口服。9个月治疗前后,采用高频超声技术检测颈动脉,记录颈动脉斑块的部位、数目、性质、大小,并测定血脂水平。结果：治疗组在降低血脂,增加斑块稳定性,缩小斑块体积,治疗效果方面明显优于对照组．治疗前后差异有显著性（P〈0．05）。结论：颈动脉超声技术能够显示斑块内部结构及表面特征,能够检测有破裂倾向的不稳定斑块。     

彩色多普勒超声检测脑梗死患者颈动脉粥样斑块的临床研究

目的探讨彩色多普勒超声检测脑梗死患者颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的临床价值。方法对38例脑梗死患者和20例健康对照者进行检查,应用彩色多普勒超声仪检测颈动脉内膜-中膜厚度（IMT）、斑块类型及斑块形态。结果脑梗死组发现颈动脉有不同程度的粥样硬化斑块形成29例,发生率为76．3％,对照组20例中有3例（15．0％）检出颈动脉粥样硬化。脑梗死组IMT（1．12±0．29）mm,对照组IMT（0．76±0．16）mm,两组差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;脑梗死组颈动脉斑块以脂质型为主,且表面多呈不规则型。结论脑梗死的发生与颈动脉粥样硬化斑块有密切关系,彩色多普勒超声是检测颈动脉粥样硬化斑块最简捷的方法,对临床预防脑梗死有重要意义。     

高频彩色多普勒超声检查对糖尿病颈总动脉血管病变的临床价值

目的评价高频彩超在糖尿病颈总动脉血管病变中的临床应用价值。方法应用高频彩超检测40例糖尿病患者颈总动脉内膜-中膜厚度（IMT）、颈总动脉内径（CCAD）和阻力指数（RI）以及血管中粥样硬化斑块的形成情况,并与35例正常组对照。结果糖尿病组颈总动脉IMT、CCAD和RI均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）,糖尿病组颈总动脉的斑块发生率亦高于对照组（P〈0．05）。结论高频彩超能直观显示颈总动脉的病变程度以及是否有斑块形成,对临床了解糖尿病患者动脉粥样硬化情况和预防脑栓塞具有重要的实用价值和指导意义。     

代谢综合征患者颈动脉内中膜厚度与IR的临床研究

目的探讨代谢综合征患者颈动脉内中膜厚度与IR的相关性。方法入选研究对象共90例,分为代谢综合征(MS)组和健康对照组,应用血管彩色超声检测颈动脉内中膜厚度。测量血压、身高、体质量、腰围和臀围。抽取空腹静脉血,测定血清胰岛素(FINS)、血糖(FPG)、总胆固醇(TC)、三酰甘油(TG)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、载脂蛋白AⅠ(Apo-AⅠ)和载脂蛋白B(Apo-B)。结果MS组IMT、IR水平高于健康对照组(P<0.05)。Pearson相关分析显示,IMT与IR、SBP、DBP、WC、WHR、BMI、BF%、FPG、TC均呈显著正相关(P<0.01)。多元逐步线性回归分析显示:收缩压、腰围、IR、血糖是影响IMT的独立因素;IMT、舒张压、HDL-C是影响IR的独立因素。结论代谢综合征患者IMT与IR、收缩压、腰围、血糖密切相关。     

冠状动脉粥样硬化狭窄与脑动脉粥样硬化狭窄的关系

目的探讨颈动脉和（或）脑动脉粥样硬化狭窄与冠状动脉狭窄的关系。方法选择34例心内科住院伴有脑缺血症状、接受冠状动脉造影并颈动脉造影或全脑血管造影的患者。根据造影动脉管腔狭窄的程度分别分成三个亚组,冠状动脉狭窄分为轻度狭窄组（5例）、中度狭窄组（4例）、重度狭窄组（25例）;脑血管狭窄分为轻度狭窄组（6例）、中度狭窄组（4例）、重度狭窄组（24例）。结果冠状动脉狭窄与颈动脉或椎动脉狭窄程度分布一致,冠状动脉血管重度狭窄者25例,脑血管重度狭窄者24例,二者间差异无统计学意义;冠状动脉Califf危险记分≥2分者,脑血管中、重度狭窄的比例高达92％,且随着冠状动脉狭窄程度的加重,颈动脉及脑血管狭窄的程度亦加重。随访发现中重度双重狭窄（冠状动脉狭窄同时伴有脑动脉狭窄）病变的心脑事件发生明显增多,其中双重度狭窄死亡3例。结论颈动脉或椎动脉粥样硬化性狭窄的发生率及程度与冠状动脉狭窄是平行的。故对冠状动脉狭窄合并颈动脉和（或）椎动脉粥样硬化狭窄者,尤其伴有高血压、糖尿病、吸烟等多重危险因素时,应给予积极强化的联合治疗以减少心脑血管事件的发生。     

远端保护装置下颈动脉支架术预防卒中的安全性和有效性研究

目的探讨在远端保护装置下行颈动脉支架术对预防缺血性脑卒中的安全性、可行性以及中、远期临床效果。方法对2002-2005年住院的58例颈动脉狭窄超过70％的患者,在置入远端保护伞装置后行颈动脉支架置入术,术后行心脑血管专科及颈动脉超声检查随访。结果58例患者中57例成功置入远端保护伞装置,远端保护伞装置置入的成功率为98％;59处颈动脉狭窄病变共置入61枚支架,支架置入成功率100％。平均颈动脉狭窄程度由术前的（81．3±19．6）％减少到术后的（6．2±1．3）％。颈动脉狭窄处直径由术前（1．3±0．9）mm增加到（5．2±1．1）mm;平均住院2．5天;1例患者术中发生小卒中。平均随访时间（14±2）个月,随访期间,2例患者发生无症状性颈动脉狭窄;2例发生心肌梗死;1例发生小卒中;无大卒中及无死亡发生。结论远端保护伞装置置入及在其下进行的经皮颈动脉支架术成功率高、安全性好,能够有效减少近、远期卒中的发生。     

High resolution 3 Tesla contrast-enhanced MR angiography of the hands in Raynaud’s disease

Raynaud’s disease is associated with disorders in blood circulation of the hands. The gold standard to visualise pathology of digital arteries is catheter angiography. Contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE MRA) has developed even more as an alternative non-invasive method to digital subtraction angiography, mostly for pelvic or lower limb vessels. We report a case of primary Raynaud’s disease with high-grade stenosis and an occlusion of the digital arteries. This case illustrates the benefit and efficiency of CE MRA at high fields in depicting location and extension of peripheral arterial alterations.     

Pilot Results of the Early Detection by Ultrasound of Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness Evaluation (EDUCATE) study

BACKGROUND: Limitations of current models for risk stratification are known. Noninvasive imaging is being advocated as an adjunct to improve risk prediction; however, studies documenting outcomes are rare. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the negative and positive predictive values of carotid atherosclerosis for future cardiovascular events. METHODS: The Early Detection by Ultrasound of Carotid Artery intima media Thickness Evaluation (EDUCATE) study prospectively enrolled 253 consecutive young to middle-aged adults undergoing elective coronary angiography. Bilateral carotid ultrasound and lipid profiles were performed. Carotid atherosclerosis was defined as intima media thickness >/=1.0 mm in the main body, or focal plaque within the body, bulb, or proximal branch. Future events included major (death, myocardial infarction, stroke) and minor (revascularization and new onset heart failure). RESULTS: Of the enrolled patients 236 completed all tests; mean age was 51 +/- 8 years; 58% women. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive values for carotid atherosclerosis in predicting severe coronary artery disease were 72%, 49% and 79%, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-4.0). Of patients suffering major events, 90% had carotid atherosclerosis. Only 1 of 95 without carotid atherosclerosis experienced a major event. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed differences in event-free survival in favor of subjects without carotid atherosclerosis for major (P = .051) and any event (P = .015). Cox analysis revealed a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.7 (95% CI 1.2-6.2; P = .020) for predicting future events. The relationship remained significant after adjusting for traditional risk factors (HR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1-5.9; P = .034). CONCLUSIONS: Carotid atherosclerosis is associated with severe coronary artery disease and future events. Negative carotid ultrasound is associated with excellent prognosis.     

Early sign of atherosclerosis in slow coronary flow and relationship with angiotensin-converting enzyme I/D polymorphism

Increase in carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) is an early sign of atherosclerosis. Slow coronary flow (SCF) is characterized by delay of opacification of coronary arteries in coronary angiography in the absence of any evident obstructive lesion, but its etiopathogenesis remains unclear. Genes that regulate the renin angiotensin system also play a role in developing cardiovascular system disorders. The presence of deletion (D) allele in angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism is associated with coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the carotid artery IMT measurement, as an early sign of atherosclerosis, in patients with SCF and without SCF and also to assess the effect of the renin-angiotensin gene system on carotid IMT. Forty-four patients with angiographically proven SCF and 44 cases with normal coronary flow (NCF) pattern with similar risk profile were enrolled in the study. Coronary flow patterns of the cases were determined by thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count method. Intima-media thickness was measured by recording ultrasonographic images of both the left and right common carotid artery with a 12-MHz linear array transducer. ACE I/D polymorphism and Angiotensin II tip 1 receptor (AT1R) A/C gene polymorphism were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Demographic characteristics and coronary artery disease risk factors of SCF and NCF groups were similar. Mean TIMI frame count and carotid IMT (mm) were significantly higher in the SCF group than controls (45.9 ± 12 vs 23.3 ± 3.7, P = 0.0001; 0.75 ± 0.08 vs 0.69 ± 0.06, P = 0.0001, respectively). Mean TIMI frame count was positively correlated with IMT of carotid artery in correlation analysis (r = 0.45, P = 0.0001). When analyzed in regard to ACE genotype in all subjects, IMT values were statistically different (0.78 ± 0.06 for DD genotype, 0.72 ± 0.05 for ID genotype, and 0.64 ± 0.06 for II genotype, P = 0.0001). This difference remained significant in subgroup analyses for each genotype. No association could be observed between the AT1R A/C¹¹⁶⁶ polymorphism and IMT of carotid artery measurement (P > 0.05). Lack of association was still observed with analysis carried out when genotype effect was assumed to be inherited as additive (CC versus AA versus AC) or dominant (AA versus AC+CC). Increased IMT in patients with SCF shows that subclinical atherosclerosis may play role in this phenomenon. This increase was most marked in the presence of D allele of ACE genotype, which is associated with vascular hypertrophy.