title: [Correlation study between carotid atherosclerosis and hypertension].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the correlation between carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) and hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Color Doppler ultrasonography data of CAS were observed in 150 hypertension patients [as the hypertension group, including 70 patients in the phlegm-stasis syndrome (PSS) group and 80 in the non-PSS group] and 30 non-hypertension patients (as the control group). The difference of the CAS occurrence was compared among the three groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of CAS was higher in the PSS group and the non-PSS group than in the control group, showing statistical difference (P<0.01). Of them, it was higher in the PSS group than in the non-PSS group (P<0.05). Hard plaque dominated in the CAS plaque constitution in both the PSS group and the non-PSS group. Of them the soft plaque ratio was higher in the PSS group than in the non-PSS group, showing statistical difference (41.9% vs 11.4%, P<0.05). The CAS plaque distribution positions among the three groups (P>0.05). The inner diameters of the left and right common carotid artery, and the resistant indices of the left and right common carotid artery, the left internal carotid artery, and the left vertebral artery in the PSS group and the non-PSS group were higher than in the control group (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypertension patients are often accompanied with CAS of various degrees. Especially the soft plaque ratio of the CAS plaque was higher in those of PSS, indicating the possibility of target organs damage such as cerebral infarction was higher.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Guan-Yi
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Guang-wen
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color