Ultrasound diagnosis of carotid atherosclerosis and its clinical significance in patients with cerebral infarction

Objective To evaluate state of carotid atherosclerotic plaques stability and distribution in patients with cerebral infarction by color Doppler ultrasonography.Methods Carotid artery color Doppler ultrasonography was performed in 100 patients and 20 normal control subjects.The patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques were divided into either stable -plaques and unstable -plaques groups according to the results of ultrasonography.The incidence of carotid atherosclerotic plaques was observed in patients with cerebral infarction.The relashionship between cerebral infarction and carotid atherosclerotic plaques with stable or unstable was analyzed.Results Seventy - eight cases in the 100 patients with cerebral infarction were detected carotid atherosclerotic plaques(78%), of this patients, 41 cases were unstable- plaques.Nine cases in the 20 normal control subjects were detected carotid atherosclerotic plaques.The detectable rate of carotid atherosclerotic plaques in cerebral infarction was significantly higher than that in control group(P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Color Doppler ultrasonography assess the stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaques in patients with cerebral infarction.thus it is helpful to estimate the mechanism of ischemia and evaluate its risk factors.So it has a wide application prospect in screening high -risk Population, guiding drug administration and Surgical intervention. Key words: Cerebral infarction Carotid artery ;  Atherosclerosis ;  Plaque ;  Ultrasonography,Doppler,Color ;