ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the feasibility, accuracy and senaitivety of echo tracking (ET) technology on carotid elasticity in rabbits. Methods Thirty-nine healthy New Zealand rabbits were divided into 4 groups,which group 1,2,3 were experimental groups and group 4 was control group. Experimental groups were fed with high cholesterol diet,control group were fed with basic diet. The parameters of elasticity of carotid were measured with ET technology, including pressure-strain elasticity modulus(Ep), stiffness parameter(β), arterial complianee(AC), pulse wave velocity( PWV), augmentation index (AI) at the interval of 0,4,8,12 weeks of the experiment respectively. Blood-fat level of all rabbits were checked and the common carotid artery was examined pathologically,which were compared and analyzed then. Results With the prolong of the experiment time,the Ep and β raised, but the AC reduced. There were significant difference between experimental group 1 (4 weeks) and basement,which were same between experimental group 2 (8 weeks) and experimental group 1, between experimental group 3(12 weeks) and experimental group 2( P<0.05). PWV increased comparing with basement in the end of 8 weeks,which increased obviously in the end of 12 weeks,meanwhile was higher than in the end of 8 weeks,which there were significant differences ( P<0.01 ). AI had no change all the time. Conclusions ET technology is accurate and reliable in detecting early atherosclerosis. Probe maintenance tool can keep the steady of checking progress, sensitive of result and repeatability.