Assessment of early intima elasticity of carotid by ultrasonic technology of layer-specific strain combined with serum complement C3 in systemic lupus erythematosus / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To reveal the early elastic dysfunction of common carotid artery may have occurred in systemic lupus erythematosus( SLE) patients ,the circumferential strain parameters of common carotid artery intima in SLE patients at different serum complement levels were quantitatively evaluated by layer-specific strain imaging . Methods Seventy-two patients suffered from SLE without evidence of atherosclerosis were enrolled ,and the results of laboratory examination of serum complement C 3 in patients with SLE were recorded in detail ,49 cases of SLE patients whose serum C3 was lower than the normal reference range(SLE C3+ group) ,23 cases of SLE patients whose serum C3 was in the range of normal reference value(SLE C3 - group) . And a matched healthy control group ( n =38) were selected . Carotid ultrasound were performed in all three groups ,and the common carotid artery conventional parameters ,such as common carotid artery intima-media thickness ( CCA-IM T ) ,peak systolic velocity ( PSV ) ,end-diastolic velocity(EDV) ,resistance index(RI) and circumferential strain related parameters ,such as circumferential strain of common carotid artery intima(CSendo) and circumferential strain rate(CSr) were measured and derived.Therelatedparametersamongthosegroupswerecomparedfordifference.Results ①Therewas no significant difference in RI among the three groups(all P >0 .05) . The values of CCA-IMT in the SLE C3+ group and SLE C3- group were larger than that in the control group( all P <0 .05) . ②The values of CSendo and CSr in the SLE C3+ group and SLE C3 - group were lower than those in the control group ,the values of SLE C3+ group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P <0 .001) ,and there was no significant difference between the SLE C3- group and control group( P >0 .05) . ③The CSendo and CSr in the SLE C3+ group were lower than those in the SLE C3- group(all P < 0 .05) . Conclusions CSendo which is provided by new ultrasonic technology of layer-specific strain combined with recent changes in serum complement C3 may provide visual evidence for assessing early elastic disfunction of carotid intima in SLE patients .