title: Echogenicity of the Common Carotid Artery Intima-Media Complex in Stroke.
abstract: The grey-scale median of the common carotid artery intima-media complex (IM-GSM) characterizes arterial wall composition, and a low IM-GSM is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality in the elderly. We aimed to determine differences in the IM-GSM between a cohort with cerebrovascular disease and a healthy cohort. Eighty-two healthy individuals (control group: 63.2 ± 8.7 y) and 96 patients with either stroke or transient ischemic attacks (CRVD group: 68.6 ± 9.8 y) were studied. Common carotid artery intima-media thickness and IM-GSM obtained by ultrasound were analyzed using semi-automated edge-detection software. The IM-GSM was significantly lower in the CRVD group than in the control group (106 ± 24 vs. 124 ± 27 au, p < 0.001). The IM-GSM was similar for the infarct and non-infarct sides in CRVD. In the pooled cohort of all participants, the lower the quartile of IM-GSM, the greater were the carotid artery intima-media thickness and carotid artery remodeling. These results suggest the presence of an altered atherosclerotic phenotype in the intima-media complex of CRVD patients that can be detected by ultrasound.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Research Centre, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK; NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility, Exeter, UK. Electronic address: k.aizawa@exeter.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Research Centre, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK; NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility, Exeter, UK; Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Salim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elyas
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Research Centre, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK; NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Damilola D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Adingupu
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Research Centre, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK; NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Casanova
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Research Centre, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK; NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Kim M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gooding
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Research Centre, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK; NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Angela C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Shore
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Research Centre, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK; NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility, Exeter, UK; Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: W David
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Strain
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Research Centre, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK; NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Phillip E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Gates
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: Carotid artery; Echogenicity; Intima–media thickness; Stroke; Ultrasound