ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the ultrasound characteristics of carotid atherosclerosis in acute stroke patients with early neurological deterioration (END). Methods END was defined as a increase by at least two points in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale between admission and day 7. Among 128 patients with acute stroke in whom carotid ultrasound examinations were performed within 24 hours after admission, 38 patients with END and 40risk-matched patients without END were included in the END group and the non-END group,respectively. The ultrasound characteristics of carotid atherosclerosis were compared in both groups. Results Plaque score (16.7 ±4.4 mm vs. 13.3 ±3.5 mm, t=2.673, P=0.009),intima-media cross-sectional area (26. 4 ± 8. 5 mm2 vs. 20. 5 ± 6. 8 mm2, t = 3. 394, P =0. 001), arterial stiffness index (28. 94 ±4. 29 vs. 21. 22 ±5. 85, t = 6. 618, P =0. 000), and the rates of unstable plaque (66. 7% υs. 43. 3%, χ2=9. 164, P =0. 003), eccentric plaque (62. 8% vs. 45. 6%, χ2=5. 008, P =0. 025), stenosis ≥50% (71. 1% vs. 37. 5%, χ2=8. 828, P =0. 003), and negative remodeling (28. 9% vs. 7. 5%, χ2=6.087, P =0.014) in the END group were significantly higher than those in the non-END group, while the distensibility coefficient ([14. 74 ±8. 66]×10-6/P υs. [19. 16 ±9.35] × 10-6/Pa, t =2. 163, P=0. 034)and compliance coefficient ([0.49 ±0. 13] × 10-4 mm2/Pa υs. [0. 58 ±0. 11] × 10-4 mm2/Pa,t =3.307, P =0. 001) were significantly lower than those in the non-END group. Conclusions The ultrasound characteristics such as plaque score, intima-media cross-sectional area, arterial stiffness index, unstable plaque, eccentric plaque, stenosis ≥ 50%, negative remodeling,distensibility and compliance may be useful to predict END in patients with acute stroke.