Biomechanical diagnosis of atherosclerosis by ultrasound.
METHODS
Atherosclerosis causes structural changes in artery walls that alter their physical properties. The stiffness parameter beta is one quantitative index of the elastic properties of large arteries. beta can be calculated from the measurements of blood pressure and arterial diameter. We examined whether beta quantitatively evaluates common carotid atherosclerosis.


METHODS
We measured the common carotid artery inner diameter and its pulsatile change with an ultrasonic instrument. The subjects were healthy persons, patients with atherosclerosis risk factors, patients with myocardial infarctions, and patients with cerebral infarction.


RESULTS
The beta in healthy persons aged 40-59 years was 11.2. beta was 13.2 in patients with atherosclerosis risk factors, 13.4 in patients with myocardial infarction, and 13.5 in patients with cerebral infarctions. These data in each patient group were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
This diagnostic method is inexpensive, noninvasive and easily performed. beta shows promise as a useful diagnostic indicator of atherosclerosis.
Wada
T
T
Department of Preventive Medicine, Jikei University, Japan. t-wada@jikei-ac.jp
Fukumoto
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography