Structural change of common carotid artery in patients with hypertension

Objective The intima-media thickness (IMT) of common carotid artery (CCA) correlated with atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.This study was designed to investigate the relationship of CCA IMT and carotid plaque with hypertension conditions as a risk factor.Methods Carotid ultrasound examination was performed to compare the IMT and atherosclerotic plaques in 54 hypertension patients with those in 18 controls.Fifty-four patients with hypertension were divided into two groups;group B was with and group A without complications such as coronary heart disease and stroke. Results The IMT of controls,Group A,and Group B was (0.45±0.19)mm,(0.67±0.20)mm and (0.94±0.28)mm,respectively,(P0.01).The scores of atherosclerosis for hypertension patients were more than those for controls (χ2=21.78,P0.01).The scores of atherosclerosis (r=0.62,P0.01) and numbers of plaques (r=0.51,P0.01)were positively related to IMT.Upon multivariate analyses the IMT of CCA was significantly related to age and duration of hypertension (r=0.617,F=12.32,P0.01).Conclusion Hypertension might impair intima of the artery,and this process could be promoted with the aggravation of hypertension.Carotid ultrasound examination could be used to evaluate atherosclerosis and impairment of artery.The IMT of CCA correlated with the age of patients significantly.