title: Positive correlation between neovascularization degree of carotid atherosclerosis determined by contrast-enhanced ultrasound and level of serum C-reactive protein.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neovascularization is one of the most important risk factors for unstable plaque. This study was designed to correlate plaque thickness, artery stenosis and levels of serum C-reactive protein with the degree of intraplaque enhancement determined by contrast-enhanced ultrasound.
  
  
  METHODS
  Contrast-enhanced ultrasound was performed on 72 carotid atherosclerotic plaques in 48 patients. Contrast enhancement within the plaque was categorized as grade 1, 2 or 3. Maximum plaque thickness was measured in short-axis view. Carotid artery stenosis was categorized as mild, moderate or severe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plaque contrast enhancement was not associated with the degree of artery stenosis or with plaque thickness. Serum C-reactive protein levels were positively correlated with the number of new vessels in the plaque. C-reactive protein levels increased in the three groups(Grade 1: 3.72±1.79mg/L; Grade 2: 7.88±4.24 mg/L; Grade 3: 11.02±3.52 mg/L), with significant differences among them (F=10.14, P<0.01), and significant differences between each two groups (P<0.05). Spearmans rank correlation analysis showed that serum C-reactive protein levels were positively correlated with the degree of carotid plaque enhancement (Rs =0.69, P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of C-reactive protein levels and intraplaque neovascularization detected by contrast-enhanced ultrasound may allow more accurate evaluation of plaque stability.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Ultrasound, the First Affiliated Hospital, Xian Jiaotong University, China, and Department of Ultrasound, Shaanxi Provincial Peoples Hospital, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoni
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Litao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Yanqiu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D010743:Phospholipids; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003287:Contrast Media; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride
keywords: Atherosclerosis; C-reactive protein; contrast-enhanced ultrasound; neovascularization; stenosis