Carotid Plaque Vulnerability Assessed by Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound and Clinical Risk Factors

To evaluate the vulnerability of carotid plaque by contrast-enhanced ultrasound, to study the clinical risk factors of the plaque, and to analyze the relationship between plaque vulnerability and clinical indicators.

244 patients with carotid plaque were selected for contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination, biochemical and other indicators were detected, and the stability of plaque was evaluated by semi-quantitative visual grading of intraplaque neovascularization (IPN), and correlation between plaque and each indicator was analyzed.

Different grades of neovascularization in plaque had statistical differences with BMI, arm circumference, WHR, WBC, CRP, tHcy, TBIL, DBIL, SUA, LP (a) and DD (P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that TBIL, DBIL were negatively correlated with the grading, while others were positively correlated.

The expression levels of SUA, tHcy, TC, TG, LDL-C, LP (a), DD, WBC and CRP are closely related to contrast-enhanced ultrasound grading, which further indicated the vulnerability of plaque and provides theoretical basis for clinical treatment.