title: High-resolution ultrasound elasticity imaging to evaluate dialysis fistula stenosis.
abstract: Accurate, noninvasive characterization of arterial wall mechanics and detection of fibrotic vascular lesions could vastly improve the ability to predict patient response to local treatments such as angioplasty. Current imaging and other techniques for determining wall compliance rely on imprecise or indirect estimates of wall motion. This study used high-resolution ultrasound imaging with phase-sensitive speckle tracking to obtain detailed and direct measurements of arterial stiffness in two subjects with dialysis fistula dysfunction. In both subjects, the absolute values of strain were much higher in normal regions of fistula than in regions of stenosis. The lower values of strain in stenotic fistula indicate greater stiffness of the vessel wall. The ultrasound speckle tracking technique used here may have potential to determine vascular mechanical properties noninvasively with a level of precision and accuracy not currently available.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-5725, USA. weitzel@umich.edu
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Weitzel
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dae Woo
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Cichonski
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rubin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016121:Brachiocephalic Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D004548:Elasticity; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000502:physiology*