Ultrasonographic research on intima-media thickness of common carotid artery and vascular compliance

Objective: To investigate the relationship between intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery and vascular compliance. Methods: 120 subjects were divided into three groups, 40 normotensive individuals as the control group, 47 subjects in non-carotid artery plaque group, and 33 patients in carotid artery plaque group, IMT and diameter of CCA were measured using HP-5500 ultrasound with a high-resolution probe, blood pressure and artery compliance (C1-large artery, C2-small artery) were detected by using HDI DO-2020. Results: IMT and diameter of the CCA of carotid artery plaque group was markedly increased, compared with control group and non-carotid artery plaque group (P 0.01), but there was no statistical difference between control and non-carotid artery plaque groups (P 0.05). Both C1 and C2 among three groups were significantly different (P 0.05). C2 was negatively associated with IMT of CCA and there was no correlation between C1 and IMT of non-carotid artery plaque group. Both C1 and C2 were negatively associated with IMT in carotid artery plaque group. Conclusions: The linear relation is existed between IMT of CCA and vascular compliance, it should be indicators in the diagnosis of early atherosclerosis by combined using.