title: The application of ultrasonic velocity vector imaging technique of carotid plaque in predicting large-artery atherosclerotic stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Large-artery atherosclerotic stroke (LAAs) is related to carotid plaque, but the mechanical mechanism is unclear. We aimed to use ultrasonic velocity vector imaging (VVI) technique to study the mechanical difference of carotid plaque in patients with LAAs and controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 43 LAAs patients and 38 controls but all showing plaque on carotid ultrasonography. Ultrasonic VVI technique was used to analyze radial systolic and diastolic peak velocity (R-vs, R-vd), radial and circumferential peak strain (R-s, C-s) and radial displacement (R-dis) of carotid plaque.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with controls, LAAs patients showed higher pulse pressure (P = .001), pulse pressure index (PPI, P = .006), and greater stress at carotid plaque as manifested by higher absolute value of radial diastolic peak velocity (R-vd, P = .021), radial systolic peak velocity (R-vs, P = .007), radial peak strain (R-s, P = .015), and radial displacement (R-dis, P = .022). PPI was significantly correlated with R-vs (r = -.274, P = .013), R-vd (r = .304, P = .006), and R-dis (r = -.28, P = .011). But there was no correlation between R-s and blood pressure. R-s was screened to be the most predictable parameters for LAAs (odds ratio, 1.118; 95% confidence interval, 1.012∼1.236; P = .029). The area under the curve of R-s was .627.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radial peak strain (R-s) is a predictable parameter for the occurrence of LAAs. We predict using ultrasonic VVI technique to analyze whether the mechanics of carotid plaque is helpful to screen patients with high risks of LAAs.
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, PR China.
authors: Xiao-Juan
authors: XJ
authors: Fan
authors: The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education and Chinese Ministry of Health, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, PR China.
authors: Ming-Jun
authors: MJ
authors: Xu
authors: The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education and Chinese Ministry of Health, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, PR China.
authors: Yun
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education and Chinese Ministry of Health, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, PR China. Electronic address: daixh@vip.sina.com.
authors: Mei
authors: M
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014465:Ultrasonics
keywords: Carotid plaque; large-artery atherosclerotic stroke; strain; velocity vector image technique