Evaluation of carotid arterial intima-media thickness and elasticity in pregnancy-induced hypertension using ultrasound radio-frequency technique / 中华医学超声杂志（电子版）

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate carotid intima-media thickness(IMT) and elasticity in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension(PIH) using ultrasound radio-frequency data(RF-data) technology.Methods Twenty-seven PIH women(mean brachial blood pressure108 mm Hg,1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)were included and thirty age- and gestational week-matched normal pregnant women served as controls.Carotid IMT and stiffness were evaluated using quality IMT(QIMT) and quantitative artery stiffness(QAS)techniques with color Doppler.Results Carotid IMT and elasticity parameters,including pulse wave velocity,pressure at T1,arterial augmented pressure(AP) and arterial augmented pressure index(AIx) were significantly higher in PIH group than in the normal group[IMT(466.84±118.50)μm vs (386.58±125.79)μm;PWV(7.09±1.97)m/s vs (5.95±1.11) m/s;PT1(127.50±14.29) mm Hg vs (105.89±11.02)mm Hg;AP(5.14±3.39) mm Hg vs (1.98±2.19)mm Hg;AIx(7.58±8.73)% vs (-4.79±7.92)%)], and there were significant differences(t=2.660,2.660,3.460,3.460,3.460,all P＜0.01).Conclusions PIH women have significantly increased carotid IMT and decreased elasticity compared with normal pregnant women.Radio-frequency technique could reliably reflect the changes of the carotid arterial structure and elasticity in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension.