Comparison of ultrasonic and histopathological features of carotid artery stenosis

Abstract

Besides the degree of carotid artery stenosis, the composition of the plaque may help to predict the thromboembolic risk. Low echogenicity on ultrasound and hemorrhage into the atheroma demonstrated histopathologically have been shown to be associated with a higher risk of embolism. Twenty-nine consecutive patients with carotid artery stenosis and scheduled for carotid endarterectomy were investigated preoperatively by B-mode ultrasound. Post-operatively the endarterectomy specimens were examined histopathologically. Neither atheroma with hemorrhage nor atheroma without hemorrhage were significantly associated with echolucent ultrasound presentation. Out of the 10 lesions echolucent and homogeneous on ultrasound, six corresponded to atheroma with hemorrhage, two corresponded to atheroma with hemorrhage plus thrombus, two corresponded to fibrous plaque plus thrombus, and one corresponded to pure thrombus. Out of the 4 lesions heterogeneous and predominantly echolucent, one corresponded to atheroma without hemorrhage plus thrombus, one corresponded to atheroma with hemorrhage, one corresponded to atheroma with hemorrhage plus thrombus, one corresponded to atheroma with hemorrhage plus fibrous plaque. Seven out of the 18 atheromas with hemorrhage did not present as purely or predominantly echolucent lesions, six of them were even homogeneouslyechogenic. Plaque surface could not reliably be predicted by ultrasound. In our study, there was no significant correlation between ultrasound and histology of the lesion. [Neural Res 1997; 19: 380-384]     

脑梗死患者的颅外颈动脉超声与CT血管造影的比较

目的:比较颈部超声检查与颈部CTA对颅外颈动脉硬化性狭窄斑块的敏感性。方法:对比分析我科住院的61例脑梗死患者的双侧颈总动脉、颈动脉分叉处、颈内动脉超声检查和CTA检查结果。结果:61例患者中,超声发现斑块110处,CTA发现斑块124处,两者对于颈动脉的斑块检出率差异无显著性意义,两者狭窄程度的一致性是55%,但CTA对颈动脉分叉处斑块敏感性高于超声波检查,对钙化斑更敏感。超声检查血管狭窄的程度高于颈部CTA的结果,超声未能显示椎动脉异常。结论:脑梗死患者的颈部CTA检查优于超声检查,特别适用于椎基底动脉供血不足患者。     

Interrater reliability of plaque morphology classification in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis

Objective - Ultrasonographic assessment of carotid artery plaque morphology is widely used to identify patients at high risk for stroke. However, the reliability of plaque analysis in high-grade stenosis is uncertain. We determined the interrater reliability of sonographic plaque morphology analysis in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis. Material and methods - Duplex Doppler was performed on 114 patients with 80–99% stenosis of the internal carotid artery using a Siemens Quantum 2000 D with a handheld 7.5 MHz transducer. B-mode pictures with and without color coding were printed on a Sony color video printer UP-5000 W. Three raters independently evaluated plaque echolucency, heterogeneity, calcification, and surface structure. Interrater agreement was calculated by a jackknife procedure generating kappa values and two-sided 95% confidence intervals. Results - Kappa values and 95% confidence intervals were 0.05 (-0.07 to 0.16) for plaque surface structure, 0.15 (0.02 to 0.28) for plaque heterogeneity, 0.18 (0.09 to 0.29) for plaque echogenicity, and 0.29 (0.19 to 0.39) for plaque calcification. The upper bounds of all of the confidence intervals were below the 0.40 level suggested for minimal reliability. Conclusion - The low interrater agreement indicated that unaided visual assessment of static B-mode pictures to assess plaque morphology in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis is not reliable. Other evaluation procedures and standardized criteria, as yet undeveloped, are needed to improve reliability.     

Atherosclerotic carotid disease in asymptomatic individuals

The carotid bifurcation was studied histologically in 53 consecutive autopsies from persons over 65 years of age who were asymptomatic for carotid artery disease and showed no carotid related brain infarcts. The autopsy material is considered to be representative for the population in Oslo. The area stenosis was determined morphometrically in histological sections and the cases were examined for the occurrence of atherosclerotic plaques, calcifications, plaque hemorrhages, ulcerations, and mural thrombi. About one half of the cases had more than 50% stenosis. There was increasing frequency of plaque hemorrhages, ulcerations and mural thrombi with increasing stenosis. When the stenosis exceeded 60%, most cases had small recent and old plaque hemorrhages and one half had ulcerations and mural thrombi. In addition, numerous healed ulcerations and organized thrombi were seen. It is concluded that plaque complications are frequent in cases with stenosis and that most of them apparently heal without giving rise to symptoms. The presence of such lesions in asymptomatic cases must therefore be interpreted with caution.     

Four-dimensional ultrasonographic characterization of plaque surface motion in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In vitro studies of atherosclerotic plaque fracture mechanics suggest that analysis of local variations in surface deformability may provide information on relative vulnerability to plaque fissuring or rupture. We investigated plaque surface deformations in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery disease using 4-dimensional ultrasonography and techniques for measuring optical flow. METHODS: Four-dimensional ultrasound examinations of carotid artery plaques were performed in 23 asymptomatic and 22 symptomatic patients with 50% to 90% stenosis of the internal carotid artery. Plaque surface motion during 1 cardiac cycle was computed with a hierarchical model-based motion estimator. Results were compared with plaque echogenicity and surface structure. RESULTS: Of the 45 patients examined, plaque surface motion estimates were obtained for 18 asymptomatic and 13 symptomatic patients. There were no significant differences in echogenicity or surface structure of asymptomatic and symptomatic plaques (P>0.05). Results of motion estimation showed that asymptomatic plaques had surface motion vectors of equal orientation and magnitude to those of the internal carotid artery, whereas symptomatic plaques demonstrated evidence of inherent plaque movement. There was no significant difference in maximal plaque velocity between symptomatic and asymptomatic plaques (P<0.14). Maximal discrepant surface velocity (MDSV) in symptomatic plaques was 3.85+/-1.26 mm/s (mean+/-SD), which was significantly higher (P<0.001) than MDSV of asymptomatic plaques with 0.58+/-0.42 mm/s (mean+/-SD). CONCLUSIONS: ++MDSV of carotid artery plaques is significantly different in asymptomatic and symptomatic disease. Further studies are warranted to determine whether plaque surface motion patterns can identify vulnerable plaques in patients with carotid artery stenosis.     

Endothelial dysfunction and systemic inflammation in persons with echolucent carotid plaques

Echolucent carotid plaques are associated with high risk for future ischemic cerebrovascular events independent of the degree of stenosis. Elevated levels of markers of systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction are predictors for future myocardial infarction and stroke. The present study was undertaken to investigate the relations between plaque morphology, endothelial dysfunction assessed by tissue-plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA ag) and vonWillebrand factor (vWF), and systemic inflammation in persons with carotid stenosis. We conducted a crosssectional study including 133 persons with carotid stenosis and 138 controls without stenosis recruited from the populationbased Troms? Study. High-resolution B-mode and colour Doppler/pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasonography of both carotid arteries was performed, and plaque morphology in terms of echogenicity was assessed. Persons with carotid stenosis had significantly higher plasma t-PA and vWF concentrations than controls. There was a significant inverse relationship between t-PA ag and plaque echogenicity (p = 0.034). The increased plasma t-PA ag in persons with carotid stenosis was not associated with increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-I (PAI-1). Persons with echolucent carotid plaques had higher degree of systemic inflammation, and plasma t-PA and vWF concentration increased significantly across quartiles of WBC, fibrinogen, and hs-CRP. Our findings may suggest that plasma t-PA may be superior to vWF as a marker for endothelial dysfunction due to its ability to discriminate between various plaque echogenicity, and that the predictive role of t-PA ag in cardiovascular disease is independent of inhibited fibrinolysis.     

Ultrasound for the assessment of the embolic risk of carotid plaques

In a prospective study we compared duplex-ultrasound characteristics of symptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) stenoses with cranial computerized tomographic (CCT) findings in 82 patients suffering from completed or transient middle cerebral artery symptoms. The aim was to assess the pathogenic role of ICA plaque morphology and the potential embolic risk of ICA plaques. The degree of carotid stenosis was estimated by spectral analysis of the pulsed Doppler signal. The CCT findings were classified as being either normal, lacunar lesions, hemodynamically induced low-perfusion infarctions, or territorial embolic infarctions. According to their ultrasonic features we characterized the ICA plaque surface as smooth or irregular and their structure as homogeneous or heterogeneous. Plaques with an irregular surface and heterogeneous echogenicity dominated significantly in CCT-territorial infarctions (p < 0.01), whereas hemodynamically induced low-perfusion infarctions showed no relationship with any plaque characteristic. High degree ICA stenoses (> 50>%) dominated in both territorial infarctions and low-perfusion infarctions, as compared to ipsilateral normal CCT or lacunes (p < 0.05). Normal CCT and lacunar infarctions were associated with homogeneous and smooth plaques (both p < 0.05). We conclude that > 50% ICA stenoses can cause both hemodynamically induced low-perfusion infarctions as well as thromboembolic territorial infarctions, whereas ulcerated and heterogeneous plaques constitute a high risk factor for arterio-arterial embolic stroke. Furthermore, carotid ultrasound may help to estimate the clinical significance of carotid lesions.     

B-mode ultrasound and spiral CT for the assessment of carotid atherosclerosis

More studies on the natural history of carotid artery plaques are needed to predict more reliably which plaque types or features are the most dangerous (see Table 2). Studies on carotid and coronary endarterectomy specimens indicate a dynamic process of rupture, thrombus formation, healing, and remodeling of the plaque. A plaque from a symptomatic patient may not show any signs of plaque rupture if the plaque has healed or evolved since the debut of symptoms. Selection of high-risk symptomatic patients with carotid atherosclerosis for medical or surgical treatment requires reliable, noninvasive, and cost-effective imaging methods. B-mode ultrasonography can be used for detection of early (IMT) as well as late (plaque morphology) atherosclerotic disease. Plaque morphology evaluation on spiral CT imaging is only for research and not yet for clinical use. Asymptomatic patients with carotid atherosclerosis hardly benefit from surgical treatment, as the minimal decrease in ischemic stroke risk is almost equal to the risk of perioperative stroke or death. A high degree of carotid stenosis measured using conventional angiography is an accepted risk factor for stroke but does not identify all vulnerable plaques. Echolucency on ultrasound B-mode imaging can be included as an important parameter in this risk stratification, as it appears to predict rupture-prone, lipid-rich plaques in the mild to severely stenotic carotid artery of a symptomatic patient. The subjective evaluation of plaque morphology on B-mode ultrasound should be complemented or substituted with objective evaluation such as videodensitometric analysis. This method is commercially available and is a relatively cheap and investigator-independent solution, but more studies are required to determine the exact contribution of echolucency to stroke risk. Furthermore, the evaluation of plaque morphology using ultrasound B-mode is still subject to large variations and observer-dependence, limiting its clinical use. In contrast, carotid IMT measurements are reliable to monitor progression and regression of early carotid disease as well as the impact of interventions. This method, however, suffers when used in severely diseased vessels where the boundaries of the IMT complex are hard to distinguish in all segments of the artery. Spiral CT imaging is a preliminary test for plaque characterization, as it primarily identifies calcification but not the more relevant lipid component. Moreover, it is time and resource demanding and involves use of both contrast and radiation, increasing the risk of allergic events and cancer. Standardization and continuous quality control are important, as are consensus agreements on how to quantify lesions (especially IMT), calibrate and standardize B-mode images and outline the plaque, and analyze data. The development of imaging methods for atherosclerotic research is currently fast and promising. This progress is most necessary, considering the very high demands for surrogate endpoints and risk markers in clinical intervention studies. Whether ultrasonic plaque characterization can be implemented in broad general clinical practice, for example, in screening of individuals at high risk of developing atherosclerosis and ischemic events, has to be based upon data from large prospective studies with long-term follow-up. IMT is already used in population screening, as in the ARIC study [9,101].     

Increased thrombin generation in persons with echogenic carotid plaques

Echolucent carotid plaques are associated with higher risk for future ischemic cerebrovascular events (CVE) than echogenic plaques independent of the degree of stenosis. Elevated markers of thrombin generation are associated with atherosclerotic plaques and are increased in the acute and chronic phases of CVE. The present study was conducted to investigate the influence of plaque morphology on thrombin generation in persons with carotid stenosis. One hundred twenty-eight persons with carotid stenosis (>or=35% lumen diameter reduction) and 136 matched controls without stenosis were recruited from the health survey of the Troms? Study. Blood samples were collected and plaque morphology determined by ultrasonography. Thrombin generation was assessed by thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TAT) and by prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2). Persons with echogenic plaques (n = 63) had significantly higher levels of TAT (5.24 microg/l, 4.33-6.14) (mean, 95%CI) than persons with echolucent plaques (n = 65) (3.44 microg/l, 2.91-3.96, p < 0.001) and controls (n = 136) (3.33 microg/l, 3.06-3.60, p < 0.001). They also had significantly higher levels of F1+2 (2.14 nM, 1.83-2.45) than persons with echolucent plaques (1.54 nM, 1.38-1.71, p < 0.001) and controls (1.49 nM, 1.40-1.58, p < 0.001). TAT and F1+2 increased linearly with plaque echogenicity (p = 0.002 and p = 0.001, respectively) independent of the degree of stenosis. Increased thrombin generation was associated with a significant increase in plasma factor V levels among persons with echogenic plaques compared to echolucent plaques (p = 0.049) and controls (p = 0.025). The present findings indicate that increasing plaque echogenicity, rather than plaque echolucency and the degree of stenosis, is associated with thrombin generation in persons with carotid stenosis.     

Symptomatic and asymptomatic high-grade carotid stenoses in Doppler color-flow imaging.

We examined 63 patients with 31 symptomatic and 44 asymptomatic carotid stenoses with Doppler color-flow imaging (DCFI); conventional Doppler duplex had shown a hemodynamic obstruction (greater than or equal to 80% stenosis) in all patients. Analysis of plaque surface morphology demonstrated more ulcerated plaques in symptomatic (43%) than asymptomatic (23%) stenoses. Although the frequency of homogeneous and heterogeneous plaques was not different, calcific lesions were more frequent in asymptomatic (46% versus 29%), and echolucent plaques, probably indicating mural thrombi, were more frequent in symptomatic (29% versus 11%) stenosis. Color-coded hemodynamic patterns, such as jet flow, poststenotic turbulence, or reversed flow, were not different in symptomatic and asymptomatic stenoses. Comparison of DCFI with 30 angiograms showed agreement in plaque surface analysis in 70%. DCFI measurements of area reduction in cross sections correlated with angiography in 85%, while DCFI tended to underestimate the degree of stenosis from diameter reduction in longitudinal cuts. The advanced DCFI technique identified distinct morphologic features but no hemodynamic patterns, separating symptomatic from asymptomatic high-grade carotid stenoses.     

颈动脉粥样硬化易损斑块超声标志与脑血管疾病关系的研究进展

颈动脉粥样硬化易损斑块与缺血性脑血管事件的发生密切相关。颈动脉超声不仅可以量 化颈动脉狭窄程度,还可以评估颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的易损性。三维超声可定量评估颈动脉粥样硬 化斑块的体积,超声造影可显示斑块内新生血管的密度及分布区域,剪切波弹性成像可测定斑块组 织的硬度,反映斑块不同部位的组织成分。颈动脉超声技术的发展使其在缺血性卒中诊疗领域中的 应用更加广泛,对颈动脉血流动力学和管壁的评价更加精确,有助于临床判断脑血管事件的风险并 进行相应的干预。     

Prevalence and frequency of microembolic signals in 105 patients with extracranial carotid artery occlusive disease

Besides the established factors "presence of symptoms" and "degree of stenosis", plaque echolucency is considered to be associated with increased risk of stroke in patients with carotid artery disease. An evaluation was carried out as to whether the prevalence and number of microembolic signals (MES) detected by transcranial Doppler ultrasound were higher in patients with echolucent carotid plaques. One hundred and five patients with carotid artery stenosis from 20%-99% or occlusion underwent clinical investigations, duplex ultrasound of the carotid arteries, and a 1 hour recording from the middle cerebral artery downstream to the carotid artery pathology using the four gate technique. The presence of MES was more frequent and the number greater in symptomatic patients (21 out of 64 patients (33%); mean number of MES in all 64 patients 3.1) than in asymptomatic patients (four out of 41 patients (10%); mean number of MES in all 41 patients 0.3) (p=0.007, and p=0.006, respectively). Echogenicity of the lesions did not affect either number or presence of MES. Positivity for MES and the number of MES increased with increasing degree of stenosis (both p=0.002). Four out of 12 patients with carotid artery occlusion showed MES. No MES could be detected in carotid artery stenosis below 80%. There was a decline in positivity of MES and of the number of MES with the time after the ischaemic event. After 80 days or more after the index event, only one patient showed MES. In conclusion, increasing degree of stenosis and presence of symptoms similarly affect macroembolic and microembolic risk. Thus MES may be a surrogate parameter for risk of stroke. The presence of MES in a few asymptomatic patients suggests that clinically silent circulating microemboli may give additional information on the pending embolic potential of carotid artery stenoses. Echolucency of the plaque was not related to an increased number of MES.     

Three-dimensional power-mode ultrasound for quantification of the progression of carotid artery atherosclerosis

Elucidation of the dynamic nature of plaque progression has important implications for clinicians. The present study sought to establish an in vivo method for visualizing structural changes in carotid plaques. Three-dimensional reconstruction of parallel two-dimensional gray-scale B-mode ultrasound combined with power-mode examination of 38 carotid artery plaques was performed in a prospective study of 32 patients (18 men, 14 women; mean age 67.5 ± 7.6 years). Initial mean plaque volume was 391 μl. After a mean of 18.9 months carotid artery plaque progression had occurred in 15% of carotid artery plaques, with plaque volume increasing 59% in these cases. Plaque volume remained constant, within a range of ± 20% in 85% of cases. Progressive plaques were predominantly hypoechoic (3/5 cases) or had an ulcerated surface in cases of a hyperechoic echogenicity (2/5 cases). Risk factors and drug therapy were unrelated to plaque progression. This study illustrates that the combination of three-dimensional ultrasound with power-mode imaging improves the separation of the intraluminal plaque surface from the vessel lumen. Three-dimensional reconstruction of atherosclerotic carotid artery plaques enables the reproducible quantification of plaque volume and is therefore an excellent technique for longitudinal trials assessing progression or regression of carotid artery disease. Received: 14 January 1999/Received in revised form: 27 August 1999/Accepted: 15 October 1999     

Coagulation activation and ultrasound characteristics in patients with carotid artery disease

Introduction

Elevated levels of markers for thrombin activation are associated with plaque echogenicity and degree of stenosis in patients with carotid artery stenosis. The Activated Protein C-Protein C Inhibitor (APC-PCI) complex reflects activation of the Protein C system and is a measure of thrombin generation. The aim of the present study was to examine APC-PCI complex in patients undergoing thrombendartherectomy for carotid artery stenosis, and to relate the findings to clinical characteristics and plaque morphology as determined by ultrasound.

Materials and Methods

Blood was obtained from 125 patients (39 female, median age 71 years) with carotid artery stenosis admitted from September 2005 to May 2007. The APC-PCI complex was measured using a sandwich immunofluorometric method and compared to an age- and sex-matched healthy control-group. Clinical and demographic characteristics, routine laboratory markers and ultrasound characteristics were analysed using univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results

APC-PCI complex concentration was significantly increased in patients with carotid artery stenosis (median 0.21 µg/L; 10th to 90th percentile 0.15-0.36) compared to a healthy control-group (0.19 µg/L; 0.11-0.31; P = .009). There was no significant difference in APC-PCI-values between asymptomatic (n = 48) and symptomatic (n = 77) patients with carotid artery stenosis (0.22 vs. 0.20 µg/L; p = 0.626). Patients with minor stroke (n = 31) had a higher median APC-PCI-concentration (0.27 µg/L; 0.15-0.63) than patients with amaurosis fugax (0.19 µg/L; 0.15-0.36) or transient ischemic attack (0.21 µg/L; 0.12-0.36) (p = 0.016). No association was found between APC-PCI-values and the degrees of carotid artery stenosis or the time from the latest neurological symptoms to blood sampling. Patients with echolucent plaques had significantly lower APC-PCI concentrations (0.20 µg/L; 0.14-0.35 vs. 0.24 µg/L; 0.15-0.60; p = 0.043), according to the Gray-Weale classification.

Conclusions

Patients with carotid artery disease exhibit increased concentrations of APC-PCI compared to a healthy control-group, particularly those patients with echogenic plaques, who have significantly higher APC-PCI levels than patients with echolucent plaques.     

脑梗死患者外周血与颈动脉斑块内脂蛋白相关磷脂酶A2表达的相关性

目的探讨外周血与颈动脉斑块内脂蛋白相关磷脂酶A2(Lp-PLA2)表达的相关性。方法选择颈内动脉系动脉粥样硬化性脑梗死患者37例为研究对象,采用彩色多普勒超声对斑块类型进行划定,采用免疫增强比浊法测定血浆和斑块组织提取物中Lp-PLA2含量后行相关性分析。结果 F检验显示,斑块类型对血浆Lp-PLA2水平有影响(P0.05)。进一步采用SNK-q检验显示,Lp-PLA2水平变化关系:无斑块组稳定粥样斑块组不稳定粥样斑块组,两两比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。脑梗死患者外周血与颈动脉斑块内Lp-PLA2表达相关性对比发现,2个部位该蛋白的表达呈正相关(r=0.831,P=0.008)。结论 Lp-PLA2可能是颈动脉不稳定粥样斑块的临床标志物,外周血与颈动脉斑块内Lp-PLA2表达呈线性正相关。     

颈动脉粥样硬化斑块与脑梗死的临床相关分析

目的分析颈动脉粥样硬化斑块与脑梗死的关系。方法对临床诊断98例脑梗死(脑梗死组)和同时期的82例非脑梗死患者(对照组)行颈部血管行彩色多普勒超声检查,并对两组颈动脉粥样硬化斑块发生率、大小、性质、好发部位以及颈动脉狭窄程度进行对比分析。结果 1脑梗死组与对照组颈动脉粥样硬化斑块检出率均较高,差异无统计学意义(81.6%vs72.9%,P0.05),但面积大于20mm2斑块的检出率急性脑梗死组显著高于对照组(38.8%vs9.8%,P0.01);2两组颈动脉硬化斑块的分布部位均以颈总动脉分叉处为主,两组间比较,差异无统计学意义(66.6%vs62.7%,P0.05);3两组颈动脉狭窄发生率及程度比较,脑梗死组均高于对照组(χ2=6.98,P0.05)。结论颈动脉粥样硬化斑块形成与脑梗死的有密切相关性,彩色多普勒超声技术对高风险、老年人的脑卒中早期预防及诊治有重要意义。     

Clustering of risk factors increases the incidence of echolucent carotid plaque in stroke patients

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of clusters of risk factors on the incidence of echolucent carotid plaque in stroke patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 413 stroke patients who had undergone carotid ultrasonography was performed. High-resolution B-mode ultrasonography was used to evaluate the characteristics of carotid plaque. We investigated the relationships between the incidence of echolucent carotid plaque and clustering of risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia) and stroke subtypes and transient ischemic attack (TIA). RESULTS: Echolucent plaques were present in 10.5% of patients free of risk factors, in 18.8% with a single risk factor (NS), in 27.7% with two risk factors (p <0.01) and in 50.0% with three risk factors (p <0.001), and were significantly more common in patients with multiple risk factors (odds ratio 1.79; 95% CI, 1.05-3.06; p = 0.045). Echolucent plaques were observed in 41.2% of patients with atherothrombotic infarction, in 17.6% with lacunar infarction, in 11.5% with cardioembolic stroke, and in 25.0% with TIA, and were significantly more common in patients with atherothrombotic infarction than in those with lacunar infarction or cardioembolic stroke (p<0.001), or in those with TIA (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The clustering of risk factors increased the incidence of echolucent carotid plaque. Patients with multiple risk factors were at increased risk of echolucent plaque, and these had a significant relationship with atherothrombotic infarction compared with other stroke subtypes and TIA.     

颈动脉超声对冠状动脉狭窄患者缺血性脑血管疾病的评价及其与传统危险因素的关系

目的探讨颈动脉超声对预测冠状动脉狭窄患者颅内动脉狭窄的价值,以及颈动脉超声相对于其它动脉粥样硬化主要危险因素预测缺血性心脑血管疾病的优越性。方法对209例经血管造影证实冠状动脉狭窄(≥70%)的患者采用彩色多谱勒血流成像(CDFI)和经颅多普勒超声(TCD)分别检查颈动脉和颅内动脉,并将患者分为颈动脉狭窄组与非狭窄组;脑动脉狭窄组与非狭窄组,分别比较狭窄组与非狭窄组之间的危险因素及生化指标,进一步对冠状动脉狭窄合并颅内动脉狭窄的主要危险因素与颈动脉超声结果中具有显著性统计学意义的指标,分析二者之间的相关性。结果颈动脉超声对缺血性心脑血管疾病的预测价值较传统的危险因素更高。结论高血压病、颈动脉球部内膜增厚、多发斑块及不均质回声斑块对冠状动脉狭窄患者颅内动脉狭窄有明显的促进作用。采用CDFI对确诊冠状动脉狭窄患者进行检测,对心脑血管事件高危人群进行筛选、评价治疗疗效和预后具有重要意义。     

基于人工智能斑块分割超声图像的影像组学在颈动脉斑块稳定性评估中的应用

目的 探讨基于人工智能斑块分割超声图像的影像组学评估颈动脉斑块的稳定性,以及其对颈动脉易损斑块与稳定性斑块的诊断效能.方法 171例缺血性脑卒中患者通过颈动脉彩超检查分为易损斑块组(83例)与稳定斑块组(88例).在人工智能斑块分割超声图像上提取369个影像组学特征,采用最小绝对收缩和选择算子方法 对影像组学特征进行降...     

Carotid artery atherosclerosis is correlated with cognitive impairment in an elderly urban Chinese non-stroke population

Carotid artery atherosclerosis may cause increased intima-media thickness (IMT), plaque formation, and vessel stenosis or occlusion. However, the association between carotid artery atherosclerosis and cognitive impairment remains uncertain. This study explored the effects of IMT and carotid artery stenosis on cognitive function in an elderly Chinese non-stroke population. A total of 2015 patients were recruited. The IMT of carotid arteries and the presence of plaques and stenosis in carotid arteries were assessed with B-mode ultrasound examination. Cognitive performance was evaluated with neuropsychological tests. The cross-sectional relationships between cognitive performance and carotid wall characteristics were analyzed. Carotid artery atherosclerosis (IMT > 1.0) and stenosis were found in 86% and 51% of patients, respectively. Cognitive impairment was found in 356 (17.7%) patients. After adjustment for possible confounders, IMT (odds ratio [OR] = 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23–3.16) and hyperdense plaque (OR = 4.72; 95% CI 2.56–11.2) were associated with poor cognitive performance. Patients with severe (?70%) carotid artery stenosis had a lower Mini-Mental State Examination score compared with the mild to modest (40–70%) carotid artery stenosis group. Cognitive performance differed between patients with left and right carotid artery stenosis, but no differences were observed between patients with severe left and right carotid artery stenosis. This study indicates that carotid artery atherosclerosis is correlated with cognitive impairment in the elderly Chinese population. A larger sample size across multiple centers and a longitudinal study are required to further explore the impact of carotid artery atherosclerosis on cognition in the elderly population.