Evaluation of the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and cerebral infarction by ultrasound

Objective To explore the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis(CAS)and cerebral infarction by ultrasonography.Methods Seventy-three patients with cerebral infarction and 100 patients without cerebral infarction were enrolled in this study.Intima-media thickness(IMT)of carotid artery,echo type of carotid artery plaques were compared between the two groups.Results The IMT of patients with cerebral infarctionwas significantly higher than that of control group(P0.05).The incidence rate of carotid atherosclerosis plaque in patients with cerebral infarction was 84.9%,which was significantly higher than that of control group(16.0%)(P0.05).The ratio of hypoechoic and heterogeneous plaques in patients with cerebral infarction was higher than that of control group(P0.05).Hypertension,diabetes,IMT thickening,hypoechoic and heterogeneous plaques in carotid artery were independent risk factors for cerebral infarction.Conclusion The occurrence of cerebral infarction is closely related to the carotid atherosclerosis.Carotid ultrasonography can provide an evidence for prevention and treatment of cerebral infarction.