Relationship between carotid plaque neovascularization and other cardiovascular risk factors and acute coronary syndrome using contrast-enhanced ultrasound / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the relationship between carotid plaque neovascularization and other cardiovascular risk factors and acute coronary syndrome(ACS) using contrast-enhanced ultrasound.Methods The study population consisted of 128 patients with coronary heart disease associated carotid plaque thicker than 2.0mm,including 63 patients with ACS and 65 patients with stable coronary artery disease (sCAD).Contrast-agent enhancement in the plaque was evaluated by visual interpretation and quantitative analysis.All blood samples of the patients were sent to the same hospital laboratory for biochemical detection and correction.Results The percentage of contrast-agent enhancement in patients with ACS was significantly greater than that in patients with sCAD by visual interpretation [63%(39/63) vs 37%(24/65),P<0.001].The quantitative analysis showed that the enhanced intensity in the plaque and the ratio of enhanced intensity in the plaque to that in the carotid artery lumen in patients with ACS were significantly greater than those in patients with sCAD (P=0.001,P=0.035,respectively).Logistic regression analysis revealed that age older than 65 years and contrast-agent enhancement within plaque were independent predictor for patients with ACS(OR=2.630,95%CI 0.933-7.409,P=0.006;OR=2.687,95%CI 1.002-8.025,P=0.047).Conclusions Age older than 65 years and contrast-agent enhancement in the carotid plaque may be used as independent predictors for ACS.