Abstract
The aim of study was to clarify whether atherosclerotic plaque morphology, as defined by ultrasound image, was related to the cerebral ischemic change. We performed the ultrasonography using SONOS 5500 (Phillips Co Ltd, USA) in 297 subjects who were 139patients with hypertension at Hypertension Center of Kinki Central Hospital and 158subjects taking of cerebral health screening examination at the Health Care Center of Kinki Central Hospital. The presence of atherosclerotic plaque was analyzed histological changes using integrated backscatter echo signals by acoustic densitometry method and subjects and patients were divided into 4 groups: subjects or patients without atherosclerotic plaque (N group), those with soft plaque only (S group), those with soft plaque including low density core (I., group) and those with hard plaque (H group). Cerebral ischemic changes observed by MRI were shown at a significant higher rate in L group (71.9%) and H group (61.3%) than N group (24.2%) and S group (30.4%). The parameters showing atherosclerotic changes of carotid artery (large intima-media thickness and diastolic diameter and reduced artery distensibility) were significantly dominant in L and H groups than in N and S groups. These findings suggested that the findings of atherosclerotic plaque with low density core or calcification in carotid artery were closely related with cerebral ischemic changes. Therefore, we concluded that the carotid artery ultrasonography using acoustic densitometry method was useful for detect by an unstable state of atherosclerosis and cerebral ischemic changes in health screening.
