Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2025
Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity Cf-PWV to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness
Published on: May 3, 2018
Evaluating Carotid Plaque Stiffness with Ultrasound 2D Shear-Wave Elastography in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery
Adel Alzahrani1, Amjad Ali Alharbi1, Amjad Khalid Alharbi1
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Imaging, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah 24246, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Ultrasound 2D shear-wave elastography (2D-SWE) reliably measures carotid plaque stiffness. Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) showed less stiff plaques, indicating potential for risk assessment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular imaging
- Noninvasive atherosclerosis assessment
- Biomechanical properties of arterial plaques
Background:
- Coronary and carotid artery diseases are linked systemic atherosclerotic conditions.
- Evaluating both coronary and carotid atherosclerosis is crucial in high-risk individuals.
- Ultrasound 2D shear-wave elastography (2D-SWE) shows potential for noninvasive carotid plaque stiffness assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess carotid plaque stiffness using 2D-SWE in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
- To compare carotid plaque stiffness between CABG patients and a control group.
- To evaluate the reproducibility and correlation of 2D-SWE measurements with plaque characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Prospective pilot study involving 32 patients (17 CABG, 15 controls) with 43 carotid plaques.
- Bilateral carotid ultrasound with high-resolution linear transducer.
- Carotid plaque stiffness quantified by 2D-SWE (SWV, YM); plaque characteristics including GSM quantified; intra-observer reproducibility assessed via ICCs.
Main Results:
- Carotid plaques in CABG patients were significantly less stiff than controls (SWV: 3.64 m/s vs. 4.91 m/s; YM: 20.96 kPa vs. 72.54 kPa).
- 2D-SWE measurements demonstrated excellent intra-observer reproducibility (SWV ICC=0.992, YM ICC=0.992).
- A positive correlation was found between 2D-SWE (SWV, YM) and Gray Scale Median (GSM) values.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasound 2D-SWE is a reliable tool for quantifying carotid plaque stiffness with high reproducibility.
- Reduced carotid plaque stiffness in CABG patients suggests potential as a marker for high-risk plaques.
- 2D-SWE may aid in assessing cerebrovascular risk in patients undergoing CABG.
Abstract:
Background: Coronary and carotid artery diseases are manifestations of a systemic atherosclerotic process, often coexisting in patients affected by both conditions. This association emphasizes the importance of evaluating both coronary and carotid atherosclerosis in high-risk individuals. Ultrasound 2D shear-wave elastography (2D-SWE) has shown promise as a noninvasive technique for assessing carotid plaque stiffness. This prospective pilot study aimed to assess carotid plaque stiffness in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and those not scheduled for the procedure as a control group. Methods: 32 patients (17 CABG and 15 controls) were recruited, collectively presenting 43 carotid plaques. Bilateral carotid ultrasound was performed using a high-resolution linear transducer. Plaque stiffness was quantified via 2D-SWE, expressed in shear-wave velocity (SWV, m/s) and Young's modulus (YM, kPa). Plaque characteristics, including GSM, were quantified. Intra-observer reproducibility was evaluated with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland-Altman plots. Statistical differences and correlations were assessed using Mann-Whitney U and Spearman's correlation tests. Results: Carotid plaques in the CABG group exhibited significantly lower stiffness compared to controls (median stiffness SWV: 3.64 m/s vs. 4.91 m/s, p < 0.0001; YM: 20.96 kPa vs. 72.54 kPa, p < 0.0001). ICCs demonstrated excellent reproducibility for stiffness measurements (SWV: ICC = 0.992; YM: ICC = 0.992), with minimal bias in measurements. A positive correlation was observed between 2D-SWE and GSM values (SWV: r = 0.343, p = 0.024; YM: r = 0.340, p = 0.026). Conclusions: Ultrasound 2D-SWE has shown promise as a reliable tool for quantifying carotid plaque stiffness, demonstrating high reproducibility and a significant correlation with GSM. The observed reduction in plaque stiffness among CABG patients highlights its potential as a valuable parameter for identifying high-risk plaques and assessing cerebrovascular risk in patients undergoing CABG.
More Related Videos
09:33A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology
Published on: February 7, 2015
06:18Intravascular Ultrasound Image-Based Finite Element Modeling Approach for Quantifying In Vivo Mechanical Properties of Human Coronary Artery
Published on: December 6, 2024
