Preliminary study on correlation between carotid viscoelasticity and blood flow shear rate / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

ABSTRACT

Objective • To examine the carotid viscoelasticity by using ultrasonic shear wave dispersion (USWD) technique, and to preliminarily analyze its correlation with blood flow shear rate. Methods • Forty-five patients of General Surgery Department of Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from December 2018 to January 2019 were recruited, and divided into the elder group (≥ 50 years old) and the younger group (<50 years old) according to the median age. The carotid viscoelasticity of the patients was examined by USWD technique and the indexes were obtained, including carotid shear wave elasticity (SWER), shear wave dispersion (SWDR), blood flow maximum shear rate (SRmax) and mean shear rate (SRmean). The correlations between SWER, SWDR and blood flow shear rate were analyzed by Pearson correlation, respectively. Results • ① Compared with the younger group, the carotid artery SWER, SWDR, SRmax and SRmean of the patients in the elder group were lower (all P<0.05). ② The SWER and SWDR of carotid artery of all patients were positively correlated with SRmax and SRmean, respectively (all P<0.05). Conclusion • Carotid arterial viscoelastic index based on USWD technique is closely related to the blood flow shear rate, which is expected to provide a new perspective for the study of carotid arterial diseases.