title: Role of ultrasonography in the evaluation of correlation between strain and elasticity of common carotid artery in patients with diabetic nephropathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the correlation between strain and elasticity of the common carotid artery (CCA) by ultrasonography and evaluate its clinical significance in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 68 DN patients and 54 healthy subjects were randomly recruited from the Ultrasound Department from April 2014 to March 2015. The maximum of circumferential strain (CSmax), maximum of circumferential strain rate (CSRmax), compliance coefficient (CC) and stiffness index (β) of the CCA were determined by ultrasonography in all the patients, and correlation analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CC, CSmax and CSRmax in DN group were significantly lower than in healthy controls (P<0.05), but β was markedly higher than in control group (P<0.05). There was a significantly positive correlation of CSmax and CSRmax with CC and a negative correlation with β in both control group and DN group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is significant correlation between strain and elastic of the CCA. CSmax and CSRmax may be used to reflect the mechanical characteristics of CCA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhou 215006, China; Department of Ultrasonic Diagnosis, The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou 325027, China.
authors.forename: Chunpeng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Ultrasonic, Wenzhou City Peoples' Hospital Wenzhou 325000, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou 325027, China.
authors.forename: Xingwang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Center and Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou 325027, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Wenzhou Central Hospital Affiliated Dingli Clinical Institute of Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou 325000, China.
authors.forename: Maohua
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Suzhou 215006, China.
authors.forename: Chunhong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hu
keywords: Diabetic nephropathy; common carotid artery; elasticity; strain; vascular complications