[The evaluation of atherosclerotic lesions of the extracranial carotid arteries in hypertensive subjects. A study by B-mode and pulsed Doppler echotomography].
Arterial hypertension is considered an independent atherosclerotic risk factor. In hypertensive patients it increases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality risk. The aim of the study was to emphasize the presence of atherosclerotic lesions at the level of extracranial carotid tree in patients with essential arterial hypertension. In 110 hypertensive patients (63 males, 47 females) mean age 66 +/- 16 years, and in 100 normotensive patients (66 males, 34 females) mean age 65 +/- 15 years, high-resolution B-mode pulsed wave Doppler echotomography of internal, external and common carotid artery of both sides was performed. The value of the intimal-medial complex thickness of common carotid was measured, and the stenosis percentage evaluated by B-mode pulsed wave Doppler echotomography. Atherosclerotic plaques were classified according to their echogenic characteristic and surface; their localization was then evaluated. In hypertensive patients we observed the presence of common carotid intimal-medial thickening in 75.4%, atherosclerotic plaques in 60.9% and stenosis in 17.9%; 58.3% of these ones were localized at internal carotid, 33.3% at common carotid and 8.3% at external carotid. We observed that 36% of the 100 normotensive patients presented common carotid intimal-medial thickening (p < 0.001 versus hypertensives), 25% atherosclerotic plaques (p < 0.001 versus hypertensives) and 8% stenoses; 50% of these stenosis were localized at internal carotid, the second half at external carotid. In conclusion, high-resolution B-mode echotomography study with pulsed wave Doppler spectral analysis represents a necessary method to evaluate the condition of the extracranial carotid tree in patients with hypertension.
Guarini
P
P
II Divisione di Cardiologia, USL 44, Ospedale Ascalesi, Napoli.
Tedeschi
C
C
Messina
V
V
Giordano
G
G
Pacileo
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002342:Carotid Artery, External / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018617:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
Valutazione delle lesioni aterosclerotiche delle arterie del tratto carotideo extracranico in soggetti ipertesi. Studio mediante ecotomografia B-mode e Doppler ad onda pulsata.