IngentaConnect Usefulness of carotid parameters measured by ultrasonography as a...

Abstract:

Aim:

Many studies have reported that carotid parameters measured by ultrasonography are predictors for cerebral infarction. The aim of this study was to investigate by a cross-sectional study whether those carotid parameters are markers for atherothrombotic infarction (AI) and lacunar infarction (LI) in elderly people having cardiovascular risk factors. Methods:

We studied 314 patients aged 65 years or older who had controlled cardiovascular diseases and assessed carotid arteries by ultrasonography. The subjects were categorized into control, AI and LI groups. Clinical characteristics (biochemical analysis, body mass index, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, smoking habits, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and statin therapy) and carotid parameters (maximum intima-media thickness [Max-IMT], plaque score [PLQ-S] and maximum pulsatility index [Max-PI]) were compared among the three groups. Results:

PLQ-S, Max-PI, frequency of PLQ-S ≥ 10 mm and frequency of Max-PI ≥ 2.0 were significantly higher in the AI group than in the control group. There were no significant differences between the control and LI groups concerning carotid parameters. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that there were significant correlations between AI and PLQ-S ≥ 10 mm (odds ratio 2.980; P = 0.011), AI and Max-PI ≥ 2.0 (odds ratio 2.458; P = 0.038), but there were no significant correlations between those carotid parameters and LI. Conclusions:

This study suggests that in high-risk elderly people, PLQ-S and PI are better markers for AI than IMT, but those carotid parameters do not correlate with LI.

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Usefulness of carotid parameters measured by ultrasonography as a marker of atherothrombotic infarction and lacunar infarction in high-risk elderly people