Ultrasonic characteristics of femoral artery atherosclerotic plaques in patients with different types of coronary heart disease / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore correlation between ultrasonic characteristics of femoral artery atherosclerotic plaques and non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).Methods Seventy-two patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) coexisting carotid artery and femoral artery plaques were divided into NSTE-ACS group (n=42) and chronic ischemic syndrome (CIS) group (n=30).The enhanced intensity (EI),volume,shape and internal echo level (EL) of plaques were detected with contrast-enhanced ultrasonic imaging and three-dimensional ultrasound combined with ultrasonic greyscale intensity quantitative analysis,and all parameters were analyzed between the two groups.Results EI and the proportion of irregular artery plaques were higher,and EL was lower in NSTE-ACS group than those in CIS group (all P＜0.05).EI,EL and shape of carotid artery and femoral artery plaques were correlated with NSTE-ACS (all P＜0.05).EI and EL of femoral artery plaques were risk factors for NSTE-ACS (OR=1.222,1.177,P＜0.05).Areas under ROC curve of EI and EL of carotid artery plaques were 0.801 and 0.757 (both P＜0.001),and those of femoral artery plaques were 0.814 and 0.774,respectively (both P＜0.001).Conclusion Neovascularization,shape and internal echo are correlated with NSTE-ACS,and the correlation of femoral artery plaques with NSTE-ACS is more significant than that of carotid artery plaques.Detecting ultrasonic characteristics of femoral artery atherosclerotic plaque can provide references to early identify unstable plaque and screening high-risk patients with CHD.