Carotid atherosclerosis in the first five years since rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis: a cross sectional study

Abstract Background Systemic inflammation, documented before rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis, is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis. We aimed to compare the prevalence of carotid plaque (CP) in RA patients in the first five years since diagnosis and healthy controls, and to determine disease characteristics associated with the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in RA patients. Methods This was a cross-sectional study. We recruited 60 RA patients in the first five years since diagnosis and 60 matched healthy controls. Carotid ultrasound was performed to detect the presence of CP and measure carotidintima media thickness (cIMT). Subclinical atherosclerosis was considered as the presence of CP and/or increased cIMT. Distribution was evaluated with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Comparisons were made with Chi-square or Fisher's exact test for qualitative variables and Student's t or Mann-Whitney's U test for quantitative variables. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results There were no differences in the demographic characteristics between RA patients and controls. The mean disease duration was 2.66 ± 1.39 years. A higher prevalence of CP (30.0% vs. 11.7%, p = 0.013), bilateral CP (18.3% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.008), increased cIMT (30.0% vs. 6.7%, p = 0.001), and subclinical atherosclerosis (53.3% vs. 18.3%, p = < 0.001) was found in RA patients. RA patients with subclinical atherosclerosis were older (56.70 years vs. 50.00 years, p = 0.002), presented a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia (53.1% vs. 14.3%, p = 0.002), and higher prevalence of classification in moderate-high disease activity category measured by DAS28-CRP (68.8% vs. 35.7%, p = 0.010). The latter variable persisted independently associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in the binary logistic regression (OR 6.11, 95% CI 1.51-24.70, p = 0.011). Conclusions In the first five years since diagnosis, higher prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis, including CP was found in RA patients. Carotid ultrasound should be considered part of the systematic CVR evaluation of RA at the time of diagnosis.

Comparison between carotid ultrasound and digital subtraction angiography in the diagnosis of carotid artery stenosis in patients with cerebral infarction / Comparación entre la ecografía carotídea y la angiografía por sustracción digital en el diagnostic de estenosis de la arteria carótida en pacientes con infarto cerebral

SUMMARY: This study aimed to compare the clinical value of carotid ultrasound and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for carotid artery stenosis in patients with cerebral infarction. Sixty patients with cerebral infarction underwent carotid ultrasound and DSA. Carotid artery stenosis, degree of stenosis (mild, moderate, severe, and occlusion), and carotid artery plaques were recorded and compared. Carotid stenosis rate was 96.67 % (58/60) and 91.67 % (55/60) on DSA and carotid ultrasound, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant. Mild, moderate, and severe carotid artery stenosis and occlusion were diagnosed in 35, 28, 20, and 17 arteries, respectively, with DSA, and in 39, 25, 10, and 9 arteries, respectively, with carotid ultrasound. There was a statistically significant difference in the degree of carotid stenosis between the two methods (p<0.05). The kappa value of carotid plaques detected by carotid ultrasound and DSA was 0.776, indicating good consistency. Both carotid ultrasound and DSA are effective for screening carotid artery stenosis and carotid atherosclerotic plaques. While carotid ultrasound is faster and more convenient, DSA can more accurately detect the degree of stenosis and presence of occlusion. Thus, our recommendation is a combination of carotid ultrasound and DSA in clinical settings to improve the convenience and accuracy of diagnosis.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo comparar el valor clínico de la ecografía carotídea y la angiografía por sustracción digital (DSA) para la estenosis de la arteria carótida en pacientes con infarto cerebral. Sesenta pacientes con infarto cerebral fueron sometidos a ecografía carotídea y DSA. Se registraron y compararon la estenosis de la arteria carótida, el grado de estenosis (leve, moderada, grave y oclusión) y las placas de la arteria carótida. La tasa de estenosis carotídea fue del 96,67 % (58/60) y del 91,67 % (55/60) en DSA y ecografía carotídea, respectivamente, y la diferencia no fue estadísticamente significativa. Se diagnosticaron estenosis y oclusión de la arteria carótida leve, moderada y grave en 35, 28, 20 y 17 arterias, respectivamente, con DSA, y en 39, 25, 10 y 9 arterias, respectivamente, con ecografía carotídea. Hubo una diferencia estadísticamente significativa en el grado de estenosis carotídea entre los dos métodos (p<0,05). El valor kappa de las placas carotídeas detectadas por ecografía carotídea y DSA fue de 0,776, lo que indica una buena consistencia. Tanto la ecografía carotídea como la DSA son eficaces para detectar la estenosis de la arteria carótida y las placas ateroscleróticas carotídeas. Si bien la ecografía carotídea es más rápida y conveniente, la DSA puede detectar con mayor precisión el grado de estenosis y la presencia de oclusión. Por lo tanto, nuestra recomendación es una combinación de ecografía carotídea y DSA en entornos clínicos para mejorar la conveniencia y precisión del diagnóstico.

Predictive value of carotid ultrasound in combination with passive leg raising on fluid responsiveness in critically ill patients / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective:To investigate the value of monitor carotid velocity time integral (VTI) and corrected flow time (FTc) by bedside ultrasound before and after passive leg raising (PLR) in predicting fluid responsiveness in critically ill patients.Methods:A prospective observational study was conducted. Fifty patients with critical illness admitted to the First People's Hospital of Fuyang Hangzhou from January 2020 to March 2021 were enrolled. The clinical data including the gender, age, body mass index (BMI), acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ) score, and the duration of mechanical ventilation were recorded. The changes of carotid VTI and FTc were measured by bedside ultrasound, and the values of heart rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP), central venous pressure (CVP), stroke volume index (SVI), and intrathoracic blood volume index (ITBVI) were measured by pulse indicated continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) monitor before and after PLR in all patients. According to the changes of SVI before and after PLR, the patients were divided into fluid responsiveness positive group with the change rate of SVI≥15% and fluid responsiveness negative group with the change rate of SVI < 15%. The differences in the values of VTI, FTc, CVP, and ITBVI obtained before and after PLR (ΔVTI, ΔFTc, ΔCVP and ΔITBVI) were calculated and then compared between the two groups. The predictive values of these indicators on fluid responsiveness in critically ill patients were analyzed by receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve), and their relationship with the difference in SVI (ΔSVI) obtained before and after PLR was evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis.Results:Fifty patients were all enrolled in this study, in which 27 patients were fluid response and 23 patients were fluid nonresponse. Basic clinical data were not different between the two groups. The values of ΔVTI, ΔFTc, ΔCVP, and ΔITBVI in fluid response were all significantly higher than those in fluid nonresponse [ΔVTI (cm): 2.07±1.16 vs. 0.67±0.86, ΔFTc (ms): 4.00±6.10 vs. 0.01±2.26, ΔCVP (cmH 2O, 1 cmH 2O = 0.098 kPa): 1.67±1.14 vs. 1.00±1.17, ΔITBVI (mL/m 2): 98±69 vs. 48±70, all P < 0.05]. ROC curve analysis showed that ΔVTI, ΔFTc, ΔCVP and ΔITBVI were all positive for predicting fluid responsiveness, their area under ROC curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were 0.870 (0.769-0.972), 0.694 (0.547-0.841), 0.684 (0.535-0.832) and 0.709 (0.564-0.855), respectively. When using ΔVTI 0.92 cm, ΔFTc 1.45 ms, ΔCVP 1.50 cmH 2O and ΔITBVI 44.50 mL/m 2 as the threshold values, the sensitivities were 96.3%, 63.0%, 44.4% and 81.5%, and the specificities were 65.2%, 78.3%, 82.6% and 56.5%, respectively, in which the predictive value of ΔVTI was the largest. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that ΔVTI, ΔFTc, ΔCVP, and ΔITBVI were positively associated with ΔSVI ( r values were 0.971, 0.334, 0.440, 0.650, P values were 0.000, 0.018, 0.001, 0.000, respectively). Conclusion:Carotid ΔVTI and ΔFTc monitored by bedside ultrasound before and after PLR could be as effective as conventional indicators in predicting fluid responsiveness in critically ill patients, and the predictive value of ΔVTI was better than others.

Artritis reumatoide, una enfermedad sistémica con un riesgo cardiovascular subestimado / Rheumatoid arthritis; a systemic disease with an under-estimated cardiovascular risk

RESUMEN Objetivo: Determinar el riesgo cardiovascular y la prevalencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular (RCV) en los pacientes con artritis reumatoide. Materiales y métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal, realizado en el Hospital General de Ciudad Real, entre junio de 2013 y mayo de 2014. Se realizó una analítica completa, se elaboró un perfil clínico, se calculó el SCOREm y se estratificó el RCV. Finalmente, se determinó la presencia de aterosclerosis subclínica mediante la realización de una ecografía carotídea. Resultados: 119 pacientes aceptaron participar en el estudio. Hubo una prevalencia del 73,1% de los factores de riesgo tradicionales, 6,72% había presentado un evento cardiovascular al momento del estudio, 22,68% poseía un infradiagnóstico de diabetes mellitus o nefropatía. La distribución final del RCV fue: riesgo bajo 46 (38,7%), riesgo intermedio 33 (27,7%), riesgo alto 2 (1,7%), riesgo muy alto 38 (31,9%). Conclusiones: Existe una alta prevalencia de factores de RCV y riesgo elevado infradiagnosticado en esta población. Por lo que si bien la artritis reumatoide se manifiesta de forma más aparente a nivel articular, ha de considerarse una enfermedad sistémica asociada a una mayor incidencia de eventos cardiovasculares.

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the cardiovascular risk and the prevalence of cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Material and methods: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study performed in the General Hospital of Ciudad Real from June 2013 to May 2014. A complete laboratory analysis was performed, a clinical profile was prepared, the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCOREm) was calculated, and the CVR was stratified. Finally, the presence of sub-clinical atherosclerosis was determined by performing a carotid ultrasound. Results: 119 patients accepted to participate in the study. There was a prevalence of 73.1% of traditional risk factors; 6.72% having had a cardiovascular event at the time of the study, and 22.68% had an underdiagnosis of diabetes mellitus and/or nephropathy. The final distribution of the CVR was: Low risk 46 (38.7%), intermediate risk 33 (27.7%), high risk 2 (1.7%), very high risk 38 (31.9%). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of CVR factors and an elevated risk of underdiagnosis in the rheumatoid arthritis population. Therefore, although rheumatoid arthritis manifests itself more in the joints, it should be considered a systemic disease associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular events.

The improvement of ABCD2 scoring accuracy for predicting cerebral infarction after transient ischemic attack / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective To investigate the application of improved ABCD2 scoring for predicting the onset of cerebral infarction within 7 days after transient ischemic attack (TIA).Methods A total of 133 patients with TIA adnitted from July 2014 to December 2015 were enrolled in this study.The ABCD2 scoring and ABCD2 combined with carotid ultrasound (CU) scoring were used to predict the risk of cerebral infarction occurred within 7 days after TIA.The univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to estimate the contribution of clinical risk factors to triggering the cerebral infarction within 7 days after TIA.Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the predictive value of two different kinds of scoring process in early cerebral infarction after TIA.Results Of 133 patients with TIA,35 (26.3％) suffered from cerebral infarction within 7 days after TIA.Univariate analysis showed cerebral infarction occurred within 7days after TIA was closely associated with BP≥ 140/90 mmHg,unilateral weakness,speech impairment,TIA duration ≥ 10 minutes,past history of hypertension,diabetes mellitus,carotid plaque,and carotid stenosis.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that unilateral weakness (OR =3.52,95％ CI:1.76-12.34),TIA duration ≥ 10 minutes (OR =2.45,95％ CI:1.06-9.27),diabetes mellitus (OR =3.37,95％ CI:1.27-10.94),past history of hypertension (OR =4.15,95％ CI:1.71-13.34),carotid plaque (OR =6.32,95％ CI:2.46-19.40),and carotid stenosis (OR =12.73,95％ CI:2.67-44.35) were significantly correlated with early onset of cerebral infarction after TIA (all P ＜ 0.05).The ROC analysis revealed the ABCD2-CU scoring (AUC =0.802,95％ CI:0.717-0.888,P =0.000) had a larger area under curve compared to ABCD2 scoring (AUC =0.614,95％ CI:0.511-0.717,P =0.036).Conclusions The ABCD2-CU scoring was more accurate in predicting the imminent risk of cerebral infarction in the patients with TIA compared to ABCD2 scoring.And ABCD2 scoring combined with carotid ultrasound could improve the accuracy for predicting the risk of cerebral infarction occurred within 7 days after TIA.

Problems in application of carotid ultrasonography in health checkup population / 中华健康管理学杂志

Carotid ultrasound examination is a very mature examination method, it is widely used in clinical diagnosis and health checkup. Carotid ultrasound examination plays an important role in the prediction of the occurrence of cardiovascular disease. However, there are still certain problems in the application of the examination in the domestic health checkup population, which mainly include that the method and the standard are not unified, and the reporting form is not standardized. Carotid ultrasound examination must be standardized as soon as possible.

Value of ABCD2 score combined with carotid ultrasound in the prediction of cerebral infarction after transient ischemic attack / 实用医学杂志

Objective To analyze the evaluation value of ABCD2 combined with carotid ultrasound on the prediction of cerebral infarction after transient ischemic attack. Methods The clinical data of 133 patients with TIA admitted from July 2014 to December 2015 were analyzed. We score patients according to the standard of ABCD2 score and carotid ultrasound. The incidence of cerebral infarction within 7 days was observed. Results In the 133 TIA patients 35(26.3%) progressed to cerebral infarction. The 7-day incidence of cerebral infarction was 7.1% in patients with an ABCD2 score of low risk (0-3), 25% with a score of moderate risk(4-5), and 40% with a score of high risk(6-7). The difference of the incidence of cerebral infarction was significant between the low and moderate risk stratification (P < 0.05). The 7-day incidence of cerebral infarction was 39.5% in patients with carotid plaque and 75.0% in patients with carotid stenosis , both higher than the control group (P < 0.05). In the ABCD2 score ≥4 group, the incidence of cerebral infarction in the patients with abnormal carotid ultrasound was 38.4% ,significantly higher than the patients with normal carotid ultrasound (P < 0.05). Conclusions The ABCD2 score is effective to predict short-term risk of cerebral infarction in the patients with TIA. Combination with carotid ultrasound can improve the predictive accuracy of 7- day risk of cerebral infarction after TIA.

El ultrasonido con dispositivos portátiles es útil para el diagnóstico del ictus agudo / Portable ultrasound equipment of use in diagnosing acute ictus

La ecografía Doppler transcraneal (EDTC) y el dúplex carotídeo (DC) pueden realizarse mediante dispositivos portátiles, lo que permite su utilización junto a la cama del paciente en el Servicio de Urgencias y en la sala de neuro intervencionismo. Ambas técnicas permiten el diagnóstico del estado del árbol vascular cerebral y facilitan un diagnóstico rápido y una decisión terapéutica adecuada. Existe una creciente utilización del dúplex transcraneal (DuTC), que nos permite, además, la valoración del parénquima cerebral, lo que es especialmente útil en la monitorización de la evolución de las hemorragias cerebrales, el efecto masa intracraneal y la hidrocefalia. Finalmente, la EDTC tiene un efecto terapéutico, ya que potencia la recanalización con activador tisular del plasminógeno (tPA). La EDTC, el DuTC y el DC son herramientas diagnósticas excelentes que deberían utilizarse en la evaluación inmediata de todos los pacientes con ictus isquémico o hemorrágico agudo.

Transcranial Doppler (TCD) and carotid duplex (CD) can be used as portable tests, thus allowing for bedside use in the Emergency Service and Neurointerventional Room. Both tests broaden the abilities of the stroke neurologist to rapidly evaluate the vascular tree, facilitating a rapid diagnosis and appro-priate therapeutic decisions. There is a growing use of transcranial duplex (TCDu), which also allows assessment of the brain parenchyma, which is especially useful in monitoring the evolution of brain hemorrhage, intracranial mass effect and hydrocephalus. Finally, the TCD has a therapeutic effect be-cause it enhances arterial recanalization after tPA administration. The TCD, TCDu and CD are excellent diagnostic tools that should be used in all patients with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.

Acido úrico, aterosclerosis y calcificaciones vasculares en enfermedad renal crónica / Uric acid, atherosclerosis and vascular calcifications in chronic kidney disease

Estudios clínicos y epidemiológicos han demostrado que la enfermedad cardiovascular está relacionada con un aumento en la tasa de mortalidad en los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica (ERC). Las complicaciones vasculares son principalmente secundarias a calcificaciones y ateroesclerosis. En los últimos años se ha renovado el interés por la asociación entre niveles de ácido úrico y riesgo cardiovascular. El objetivo de esta investigación fue relacionar la presencia de calcificaciones vasculares (CV) y aterosclerosis, evaluadas mediante ecografía carotídea, con niveles de ácido úrico en pacientes con ERC estadio 5 en diálisis. Se observaron CV en 56% de los pacientes; 46% tuvo criterios ecográficos para aterosclerosis con un promedio general de 0,89 mm (DE: ± 0,28), siendo mayor en los pacientes con hipertensión arterial y diabetes mellitus; este grupo también mostró mayor predisposición para CV (p= 0,01). Los niveles de urea (141,3 mg/dL) (p= 0,01) y ácido úrico (6,9 mg/dL) (p= 0,04) mostraron asociación estadísticamente significativa con la presencia de CV. Los eventos cardiovasculares adversos predominaron en los pacientes con aterosclerosis y CV (p= 0,01). Esta investigación demostró que un incremento en los niveles de ácido úrico por encima de 6 mg/L está relacionado con mayor riesgo de presentar calcificaciones y eventos cardiovasculares adversos en pacientes con ERC.

Epidemiological and clinical studies have shown that cardiovascular disease is associated with an increase in mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Vascular complications are mainly secondary to calcification and atherosclerosis. Interest in the association between uric acid levels and cardiovascular risk has been renewed in recent years. The objective of this research was to determine the relation between vascular calcification (VC) and atherosclerosis, through carotid ultrasound, with uric acid levels in patients with CKD in dialysis. VCs were observed in 56% of patients, 46% had ultrasound criteria for atherosclerosis with an overall average of 0.89 mm (SD ± 0.28), being higher in patients with hypertension and diabetes; this group also showed increased susceptibility to VC (p= 0.01). The levels of urea (141.3 mg/dL) (p= 0.01) and uric acid (6.9 mg/dL) (p= 0.04) showed significant association with the presence of VC. Adverse cardiovascular events were observed mainly in patients with atherosclerosis and VC (p= 0.01). This investigation showed that an increase in uric acid levels above 6 mg/dL is associated with an increased risk of calcification and cardiovascular adverse events in CKD patients in dialysis.

Carotid ultrasound in patients with coronary artery disease / 대한내과학회지

Although increased intima-media thickness of common carotid artery independently predicts cardiac outcomes, the clinical significance of carotid intima-media thickness in patients with diagnosed coronary artery disease is still controversial. However, the presence of carotid plaques is clearly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease, and more aggressive medical treatment is required in this occasion. In addition, carotid disease is commonly associated with coronary artery disease, and the detection of asymptomatic significant carotid stenosis in patients with coronary artery disease may modify treatment strategy and reduce the risk of stroke. Therefore, the screening of carotid atherosclerosis using ultrasound can be helpful in patients with coronary artery disease.

The Relationship of Pulse-wave Velocity with Carotid Intima-media Thickness and Carotid Artery Distensibility

BACKGROUND: Sonographic evaluation of arterial wall morphology and elasticity, and the evaluation of pulse wave velocity (PWV) are widely used noninvasive modalities for evaluating atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk assessment. Several studies suggest that intima-media thickness (IMT) and arterial elasticity indices may sensitively reflect different vasculopathic processes. Thus the purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between carotid IMT, distensibility and PWV. METHODS: We examined 14 consecutive patients (mean age 51+/-8 years, 8 males) with carotid ultrasound and noninvasive vascular screening device. Carotid IMT, carotid artery distensibility, and brachial-ankle PWV were measured. RESULTS: The brachial-ankle PWV was inversely correlated with carotid distensibility (r= 0.628, p<0.05), but not correlated with IMT (r=0.099, p=0.738). And there was no relationship between IMT and carotid distensibility (r= 0.207, p=0.478). CONCLUSION: Carotid distensibility had good correlation with brachial-ankle PWV, so it might be used for assessing arterial stiffness and evaluating cardiovascular risk.

Usefulness of the Carotid Ultrasonography to Predict the Severity of Coronary Artery Stenosis

BACKGROUND: High-resolution carotid ultrasonography is considered a fundamental technique for the investigation of the vascular system. However, it is still very unclear whether ultrasonographic studies of carotid arteries are useful for the prediction of cardiovascular events in patients with coronary heart disease. We have tried to assess the usefulness of carotid ultrasonography to predict the severity of coronary artery stenosis in the patients with ischemic heart disease. METHODS: We studied in 80 patients(53 men, 27 women) with acute chest pain, mean ages 63.1 10.8 yr(35 to 84 yrs), who underwent both coronary angiography and carotid ultrasonography with 10 MHz transducer. The patients who had received revascularization procedure were excluded. We classified the patients into two groups, the control group without significant coronary stenosis(23 patients) and the coronary artery disease(CAD) group(57 patients) with significant stenosis(>50%). The intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured in the far wall of CCA at 10 mm proximal to carotid bulb and the abnormal IMT was defined when the measurement was greater than mean IMT+2 SD of control group(>0.99 mm). Serum total cholesterolQlC), low density lipoprotein(LDL), high density lipoprotein(HDL), triglyceride(TG) and lipoprotein (a) (LP(a)) were measured and history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and smoking were investigated. RESULTS: A significant difference in IMT of the CCA was found between control and CAD group(0.75+/-0.12mm vs. 1.02+/-0.34 mm; p<0.001). Also a significant difference in the existence of plaque(control; 26.1% vs. CAD; 73.7%, p<0.00l) and the number of plaque(control; 0.39+/-0.94 vs. CAD; 2.20+/-1.87 p<0.001) was found. The existence and number of carotid plaque were more conelated with coronary artery stenosis severity than carotid IMT. The sensitivity of IMT for prediction of significant CAD was 42.1%, the specificity 95.7%, the positive predictive value 96%, and the negative predictive value 40%. The sensitivity of plaque presence on the carotid artery for prediction of CAD was 73.7%, the specificity 73.9%, the positive predictive value 87.5% and the negative predictive value 53.1%. Among the risk factors, age and LP(a) were correlated with IMT of CCA, and diabetes, hypertension, age were correlated with the presence of plaque. Smoking and hypertension were correlated with coronary artery disease. CONCLUSION: Carotid atherosclerosis was significantly correlated with severity of coronary atherosclerosis. We therefore suggest that carotid ultrasonography is useful to predict the severity of coronary artery stenosis and that the best index of coronary artery stenosis severity may be carotid plaque rather than carotid intima-media thickness.

Changes of carotid, lipidemia and fibrinogen in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated with cerebral infarction / 临床神经病学杂志

Objective To investigate the changes of carotid, lipidemia and fibrinogen in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients complicated with cerebral infarction (DCI). Methods 58 cases of DCI (DCI group) were enrolled in this study, and 36 cases of cerebral infarction without diabetes mellitus served as control group. The location, number and nature of carotid atherosclerotic plaque and inner diameter of carotid artery were assessed by Doppler ultrasonography in all the patients, as well as blood lipid, blood glucose and fibrinogen were evaluated. Results In DCI group, the rate of carotid atherosclerotic plaque was 79.3%, the IMT and inner diameter of common carotid artery in DCI group were significantly different from control group (all (P