Ultrasonic detection of carotid artery atherosclerotic plaque in the prediction and evaluation of the cerebral infarction

Objective To study the types and distribution of the carotid artery atherosclerotic plaque in patients with ischemic stroke.Methods Fifty-six patients with ischemic strokes (stroke group) and fifty patients without strokes (control group) were assessed by color Doppler ultrasonography,and the incidence and features of carotid atherosclerosis were compared.Results Out of the stroke patients,44 cases were found to have carotid arteriosclerosis (78.6%).The incidence of atherosclerosis in stroke group was significantly higher than that in controls (P0.01).Interestingly,the ratio of Soft plaques and ulcer plaques in stroke group was significantly higher than that in no-stroke group (P0.05).Conclusions Ischemic strokes are closely associated with the carotid atherosclerosis. Carotid arteriosclerosis can be used as an important index for forecasting and evaluating ischemic stokes.