Correlation study of carotid artery atherosclerosis and cerebral infarction by color ultrasonography

Objective To evaluate the relationship between carotid artery atherosclerosis and cerebral infarction.Methods Carotid artery intima-media thickness(IMT),plaque detection rate and diameter straightness were measured in 82 patients with cerebral infarction and compared with 46 patients without cerebral infarction by two-dimension and color Doppler ultrasonography.A characteristic of plaque was observed.Results Carotid artery IMT and plaque detection rate and the degree of carotid artery diameter straitens were more increased among cerebral infarction compared with the control groups,there was significant difference between the both group(P0.01).The rate of plaque in cerebral infarction group(58 /82,70.7%) was higher than that of control group(15 /46,32.6%).The IMT of CCA of cerebral infarction group(1.38±0.14) was higher than the control group(0.89±0.16).The IMT of ICA of cerebral infarction group(1.16±0.27) was higher than the control group(0.78± 0.17).Ulcerous plaque and soft plaque among cerebral infarction was more than others.Carotid plaques happens at bifurcation place(44.4%),soft plaque and ulcerous plaque(59.2%).Conclusions Degree of carotid artery atherosclerosis and occurrence of cerebral infarction has close relationship.Evaluation the degree of carotid artery atherosclerosis using doppler ultrasonography early has an important clinical value in prevention and treatment of cerebral infarction.