Abstract

Current imaging modalities, such as ultrasonography, accurately measure the degree of intima-media thickness but provide no direct information on histological changes of artery wall. Ultrasonic integrated backscatter, however, is a potential tool for non-invasively determining artery wall histological changes. The aim of the present study was to determine whether atherosclerotic changes of carotid artery in essential hypertension are measurable using ultrasonic integrated backscatter. We performed ultrasonography using SONOS 5500 in 112 essential hypertensive (HT) patients. Intima-media complex thickness, internal diameter and carotid artery distensibility were determined from measurement by high-definition echotracking system. For each subject, the variation of integrated backscatter of intima-media complex in carotid artery (IMTc) was measured using acoustic densitometry. IMTc had positive correlations with internal diameter and intima-media thickness. However there was no relationship between IMTc and carotid artery distensibility. In essential hypertension, histological changes of intima-media are correlated with structural changes of carotid artery. The finding suggests that acoustic densitometry is useful for measurement of atherosclerotic changes in carotid artery. The factors other than acoustic densitometry may participate in arterial distensibility.

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