Estimation of carotid artery pulse wave velocity by doppler ultrasonography

ABSTRACT

Pulse wave velocity [PWV] is widely used for estimating the stiffness of an artery. Various invasive and non-invasive methods have been developed to determine PWV over the years. In the present research, the non-invasive estimation of the PWV of large arteries was used as an index for arterial stiffness. A dynamic model based on the Navier-Stokes equations coupled to elasticity equations was introduced for the PWV in arteries with elastic walls. This system of equations was completed by clinical information obtained from the Doppler ultrasound images of the carotid artery of 40 healthy male volunteers. For this purpose, the Doppler ultrasound images were recorded and saved in a computer; and subsequently center-line blood velocity, arterial wall thickness, and arterial radius were measured by offline processing. The results from the analytic solution of the completed equations showed that the mean value of PWV for the group of healthy volunteers was 2.35 m/s when the mean arterial radius was used as the neutral radius and 5.00 m/s when the end-diastole radius was used as the neutral radius. It is noteworthy that the latter value closely complies with that reported by other researchers. By applying this method, a non-invasive clinical and local evaluation of the common carotid artery stiffness via a Doppler ultrasound measurement will be possible