Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2025
Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity Cf-PWV to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness
Published on: May 3, 2018
Integrating Ultrasound-Derived Carotid Artery Stiffness in the Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk
J Ryan Gedney1, Jean Marie Ruddy1
1Medical University of South Carolina, Division of Vascular Surgery, Charleston, South Carolina.
Insights
Pulse wave velocity (PWV) has limitations in assessing vascular stiffness in certain diseases. Speckle tracking ultrasound offers a more comprehensive method for measuring carotid artery stiffness, aiding cardiovascular risk management.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Ultrasound
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cardiovascular Physiology
Background:
- Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a traditional but limited measure of global vascular stiffness.
- PWV's utility is compromised in specific vascular pathologies like aneurysms or iliac stenosis.
- Vascular stiffness is a significant predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate speckle tracking as a superior method for assessing vascular stiffness.
- To demonstrate the comprehensive measurement capabilities of speckle tracking in the carotid artery.
- To advocate for the integration of speckle tracking into standard carotid artery duplex protocols.
Main Methods:
- Utilized speckle tracking, a post-hoc ultrasound image analysis technique.
- Validated speckle tracking for measuring strain, distensibility, modulus, and stiffness index (β) in vitro and in vivo.
- Focused validation on the carotid arterial system.
Main Results:
- Speckle tracking provides a more comprehensive assessment of vascular stiffness compared to PWV.
- In vitro and in vivo studies confirm the accuracy of speckle tracking for various stiffness parameters.
- Established correlation between measured stiffness parameters and established metrics.
Conclusions:
- Speckle tracking offers a more robust and comprehensive approach to vascular stiffness assessment.
- Integrating speckle tracking into carotid artery duplex protocols can enhance clinical management.
- This integration can improve cardiovascular risk stratification and modulation.
Abstract:
Historically, pulse wave velocity (PWV) has been used to measure vascular stiffness, but is limited in its utility when certain vascular disease states are present, such as aneurysm or iliac stenosis. PWV can therefore only provide reliable assessment of global vascular stiffness in limited vascular pathology. Speckle tracking is a method of post-hoc ultrasound image analysis that can measure vascular stiffness in a more comprehensive manner. Evidence from in vitro as well as in vivo studies has validated these techniques in the assessment of strain, distensibility, modulus, and stiffness index (β) in the carotid arterial system. Unfortunately, despite the well-established correlation between vascular stiffness and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, standard vascular laboratory ultrasound protocols do not include stiffness assessment. Herein, we present evidence in favor of integrating speckle tracking into carotid artery duplex protocols to measure vascular stiffness that can be utilized in medical management to modulate cardiovascular risk.
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