ABSTRACT
Objective To study the relationship between atherosclerotic plaques in carotid artery and ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. Methods The extracranial carotid arteries (ECA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) of 54 patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or cerebral infarction (CI) were examined with doppler ultrasound. The distribution of atherosclerotic plaque, degree of stenosis and ultrasounic classification of ECA and the mean velocity of blood flow in MCA were examined. Results ①Stenosis over middle-grade on asymptomatic side in extracranial internal carotid artery (EICA) in group of patients with TIA was significantly higher than symptomatic side(P<0.01). Stenosis over high-grade on asymptomatic side in ELCA in group of patients with CI was significantly higher than symptomatic side (P<0.01). ②Flat and soft plaque are most common in group of patients with TIA or CI, then are hard and ulcerative plaques. Incidence of soft plaques on asymptomatic side in group of patients with TIA or CI are significantly higher than symptomatic side (P<0.01); ③Among the group of patients with CI, mean velocity of MCA decreased on asymptomatic side in 31 cases (68.9%), and significantly higher than symptomatic side (P<0.01). Conclusion Atheroclerotic plaques in carotid artery and intracranial hemodynamic characteristics are the important risk factors for ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. These findings have important values in predicting subsequent TIA or CI in asymptomatic subjects.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the relationship between atherosclerotic plaques in carotid artery and ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. Methods The extracranial carotid arteries (ECA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) of 54 patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or cerebral infarction (CI) were examined with doppler ultrasound. The distribution of atherosclerotic plaque, degree of stenosis and ultrasounic classification of ECA and the mean velocity of blood flow in MCA were examined. Results ①Stenosis over middle-grade on asymptomatic side in extracranial internal carotid artery (EICA) in group of patients with TIA was significantly higher than symptomatic side(P<0.01). Stenosis over high-grade on asymptomatic side in ELCA in group of patients with CI was significantly higher than symptomatic side (P<0.01). ②Flat and soft plaque are most common in group of patients with TIA or CI, then are hard and ulcerative plaques. Incidence of soft plaques on asymptomatic side in group of patients with TIA or CI are significantly higher than symptomatic side (P<0.01); ③Among the group of patients with CI, mean velocity of MCA decreased on asymptomatic side in 31 cases (68.9%), and significantly higher than symptomatic side (P<0.01). Conclusion Atheroclerotic plaques in carotid artery and intracranial hemodynamic characteristics are the important risk factors for ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. These findings have important values in predicting subsequent TIA or CI in asymptomatic subjects.