Laser-Doppler flux in the normal and atherosclerotic carotid artery wall in normotensive and hypertensive subjects.
The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo the perfusion of the arterial wall in normal sections of the carotid artery, in sections with fibrotic plaques and in sections with plaques and heavy calcifications using laser-Doppler flowmetry. Patients with carotid plaques undergoing carotid endarterectomy were studied. Using intraoperative ultrasound three different levels of atherosclerosis involvement of the arterial wall were defined: normal arterial wall where all components (intima, media and adventitia) were clearly separated and intact; wall with intima-media thickening and fibrotic plaques (no calcification); sections with diffusely calcified plaques. In 20 patients 20 normal sections, 20 sections with fibrotic plaques and 20 sections with large plaques and heavy calcifications were studied. Diabetic patients were excluded. Also the carotid wall of 10 patients with essential hypertension were evaluated. Wall flux was measured on the external surface of the common carotid artery before endarterectomy. Measurements were recorded when at least 3/4 of the adventitia was intact for a lenght of at least 4 cm.


RESULTS
The average flux in normal sections was higher (p < 0.05) than in sections with fibrotic plaques and in sections with calcified plaques. A significant difference in flux (p < 0.05) between fibrotic (decreased flux) and calcified areas (very low flux). In hypertensive subjects flux measurements were significantly lower than in non-hypertensive patients (p < 0.05). In conclusions a higher wall perfusion was observed in normal arterial sections in comparison with sections with plaques. Sections with calcifications and large plaques had a markedly low flux. In hypertensive subjects all sections had a significantly lower flux.
Incandela
L
L
Microcirculation Laboratory, Cardiovascular Institute, Chieti University, Italy.
Belcaro
G
G
Nicolaides
A N
AN
Laurora
G
G
Cesarone
M R
MR
De Sanctis
M T
MT
D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010477:Perfusion