The stiffness parameter β assessed by an ultrasonic phase-locked echo-tracking system is associated with plaque formation in the common carotid artery

• Published in: Journal of medical ultrasonics (2001) Vol. 39; no. 1; pp. 3 - 9
• Main Authors: Ichino, Naohiro, Osakabe, Keisuke, Sugimoto, Keiko, Yokoi, Akira, Inoue, Takashi, Suzuki, Koji, Kusuhara, Yasuhiro, Hamajima, Nobuyuki, Takai, Hiroji, Hata, Tadayoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Springer Japan 01.01.2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Atherosclerosis; Blood pressure; Body mass index; Carotid arteries; Cholesterol; Females; Hemoglobin; High density lipoprotein; Imaging; Low density lipoprotein; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Article; Parameters; Radiology; Regression analysis; Stiffness; Tracking systems; Triglycerides; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasound; Variables; Veins & arteries; Japan; Phase-locked echo-tracking system; Severity of illness index; Stiffness parameter; Plaque formation; Atherosclerosis; Intima–media thickness; Stiffness parameter β
• ISSN: 1346-4523; 1613-2254
• DOI: 10.1007/s10396-011-0323-x

Purpose Assessment of plaque formation in the common carotid artery (CCA) is important for stratification of the risk of subsequent stroke. The stiffness parameter β , which can be assessed using an ultrasonic phase-locked echo-tracking system, was developed to evaluate arterial stiffness. The purpose this study was to examine the relationship of the stiffness parameter β to intima–media thickness (IMT) and plaque formation. Methods The stiffness parameter β and mean IMT were measured using an ultrasonic phase-locked echo-tracking system and an automatic IMT measurement system, respectively, and the presence of plaque was assessed by ultrasonography in 347 subjects who took part in a health check-up program for community-dwelling people in Hokkaido. Results Values of the stiffness parameter β were significantly higher in subjects with plaque formation than in those without plaque (10.60 ± 0.45 vs. 8.88 ± 0.23, P  < 0.005) in whom IMT was not thickened; however, it was not different in subjects with increased IMT (>1.0 mm). The percentage of plaque formation was significantly correlated with the value of the stiffness parameter β . Furthermore, the stiffness parameter β was significantly correlated with plaque formation after adjustment for several clinical variables (odds ratio 1.113–1.178, P  < 0.001). Conclusion The stiffness parameter β is associated with plaque formation in the CCA, especially in subjects with a normal IMT. This could potentially be used as a predictor for plaque formation.