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Carotid stiffness and atherosclerotic risk: non-invasive quantification with ultrafast ultrasound pulse wave velocity

  • Ultrasound
  • Published:
European Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate the value of ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV) for the quantitative assessment of carotid stiffness and its associated with atherosclerosis (AS) risk.

Methods

The present study included 233 patients with hyperlipoidaemia (AS risk group) and 114 healthy adults as the control group. The carotid (n = 694) intima-media thickness (cIMT), pulse wave velocity-beginning of systole (PWV-BS) and pulse wave velocity-end of systole (PWV-ES) were measured on sample images. Differences, distributive characteristics and correlation evaluation were assessed in patients (ages 18–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69 and ≥70) and carotids (control group vs AS risk group).

Results

The cIMT, PWV-BS and PWV-ES increased with age; PWV-ES and cIMT showed an early significant increase in the 30–39 years group, whereas PWV-BS displayed a significant increase at 40–49 years compared with the 18- to 29-years group. Besides, PWV-ES correlated well with age compared with PWV-BS and cIMT. For carotid level, cIMT, PWV-BS and PWV-ES measurements were higher in the AS risk group compared with control. To compare the value of ufPWV and cIMT in early AS assessment, we subdivided groups into cIMT subgroups using a cut-off thickness of 0.050 cm. PWV-ES measurements were higher in the AS risk group compared with the control in the 0.040–0.050 cm (not thickened) and 0.051–0.060 cm (thickened) cIMT subgroups.

Conclusions

Carotid ufPWV measurement at PWV-ES is a novel modality for the early diagnosis and quantitative assessment of arterial stiffness associated with atherosclerotic risk.

Key Points

• ufPWV technique is real-time and well repeatable for assessing carotid stiffness

• ufPWV measurements increase and correlate well with age

• PWV-ES is a quantitative predictor for the early assessment of AS

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Abbreviations

AS:

Atherosclerosis

CCA:

Common carotid artery

cfPWV:

Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity

cIMT:

Carotid intima-media thickness

DBP:

Diastolic blood pressure

HDL:

High-density lipoprotein

HL:

Hyperlipoidaemia

HT:

Hypertension

LDL:

Low-density lipoprotein

LOAs:

Limits of agreement

PWV:

Pulse wave velocity

PWV-BS:

Pulse wave velocity-beginning of systole

PWV-ES:

Pulse wave velocity-end of systole

SBP:

Systolic blood pressure

TC:

Total cholesterol

TG:

Triglyceride

ufPWV:

Ultrafast pulse wave velocity

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Funding

This work was supported by the Research Project of Jiangsu Province Hospital of TCM (grant number Y17048) and the Research Project of Jiangsu Province of TCM (grant number YB2015020).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ultrasound, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of CM, Nanjing, 210029, China

    Zheng-Qiu Zhu, Yun Luan, Lin-Lin Wu, Niu Liu & Hui Huang

  2. Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of CM, Nanjing, 210029, China

    Ling-Shan Chen

  3. Department of Geratology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of CM, Nanjing, 210029, China

    Han Wang

  4. Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of CM, Nanjing, 210029, China

    Fu-Ming Liu

  5. Department of Endocrinology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Chengdu, 610000, China

    Pin Wang

Authors
  1. Zheng-Qiu Zhu
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  9. Hui Huang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hui Huang.

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Guarantor

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Hui Huang, MD (Department of Ultrasound, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of CM, Nanjing 210029, China).

Conflict of interest

The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.

Statistics and biometry

Pin Wang, PhD (Department of Endocrinology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China), kindly provided statistical advice for this manuscript.

Informed consent

Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects (patients) in this study.

Ethical approval

Institutional Review Board approval was obtained.

Methodology

• prospective

• diagnostic or prognostic study

• performed at one institution

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Zhu, ZQ., Chen, LS., Wang, H. et al. Carotid stiffness and atherosclerotic risk: non-invasive quantification with ultrafast ultrasound pulse wave velocity. Eur Radiol 29, 1507–1517 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5705-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5705-7

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