Early diagnostic value of carotid artery ultrasound parameters combined with epicardial adipose layer thickness in coronary heart disease

BACKGROUND Coronary heart disease is associated with coronary atherosclerosis indicated by carotid intima-media thickness(CIMT)thickening and altered vascular elasticity.The epicardial adipose layer can secrete proinflammatory factors that promote the formation of coronary atherosclerosis.Thus,the epicardial fat layer thickness(EAT)may also predict coronary heart disease.AIM To determine the role of common carotid artery ultrasound parameters and EAT in the early diagnosis of coronary artery disease.METHODS Based on coronary angiography,patients with newly suspected coronary heart disease were divided into case(n=107)and control(n=41)groups.The carotid ultrasound parameters,including vascular stiffness(β),elastic coefficient(EP),pulse wave conduction velocity(PWV-β),CIMT,and EAT were compared between the case and control groups and among patients with different lesion numbers in the case group.Pearson correlation was used to evaluate the early diagnostic value of EAT,common carotid artery elasticity,and CIMT for coronary heart disease.RESULTS EP,β,PWV-β,CIMT,and EAT were significantly higher in the case group compared with the levels in the control group(all P<0.001).In the case group,lesions were detected in one vessel in 34 patients,two vessels in 38 patients,and three vessels in 35 patients.Within the case group,β,EP,PWV-β,CIMT,and EAT levels significantly increased with an increased number of lesions(all P<0.001).EAT positively correlated withβ,EP,PWV-β,and CIMT(all P<0.01).The area under the curve for diagnosing coronary heart disease using EAT combined with CIMT and carotid elasticity was 0.893,and the sensitivity and specificity were 0.890 and 0.837.CONCLUSION EAT correlated well with changes in carotid artery elasticity and CIMT in patients with coronary heart disease.The combination of EAT,carotid artery elasticity,and CIMT facilitates the early diagnosis of coronary heart disease.

Imaging characteristics and treatment strategies for carotid artery occlusion caused by skull base fracture:Three case reports

BACKGROUND Traumatic internal carotid artery(ICA)occlusion is a rare complication of skull base fractures,characterized by high mortality and disability rates,and poor prognosis.Therefore,timely discovery and correct management are crucial for saving the lives of such patients and improving their prognosis.This article retrospectively analyzed the imaging and clinical data of three patients,to explore the imaging characteristics and treatment strategies for carotid artery occlusion,combined with severe skull base fractures.CASE SUMMARY This case included three patients,all male,aged 21,63,and 16 years.They underwent plain film skull computed tomography(CT)examination at the onset of their illnesses,which revealed fractures at the bases of their skulls.Ultimately,these cases were definitively diagnosed through CT angiography(CTA)examinations.The first patient did not receive surgical treatment,only anticoagulation therapy,and recovered smoothly with no residual limb dysfunction(Case 1).The other two patients both developed intracranial hypertension and underwent decompressive craniectomy.One of these patients had high intracranial pressure and significant brain swelling postoperatively,leading the family to choose to take him home(Case 2).The other patient also underwent decompressive craniectomy and recovered well postoperatively with only mild limb motor dysfunction(Case 3).We retrieved literature from PubMed on skull base fractures causing ICA occlusion to determine the imaging characteristics and treatment strategies for this type of disease.CONCLUSION For patients with cranial trauma combined with skull base fractures,it is essential to complete a CTA examination as soon as possible,to screen for blunt cerebrovascular injury.

Massive Epistaxis Revealing a Post-Traumatic Aneurysm of the Internal Carotid Artery: A Clinical Case and Review of the Literature

Internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms are an unusual but serious cause of epistaxis. This epistaxis is massive and sometimes uncontrollable threatening the vital prognosis of patients. We report the case of a 16-year-old adolescent received in emergency with severe bilateral epistaxis, asthenia and grade-3 left exophthalmos. In his history, the subject had been the victim of an assault six months before consultation. He had received blows on the cephalic extremity with light but repeated epistaxis. The treatment consisted to blood products transfusion and local compression by sterile gazes. An ICA aneurysm in sphenoid sinus has been confirmed in a craniofacial CT scan coupled to vascular opacification. Although the ICA has a variable course in contact with the sphenoid sinus, massive epistaxis would be the consequence of a pronounced dehiscence of the ICA in the sphenoid sinus, particularly in a traumatic context. In front of this type of epistaxis in our context, general practitioners must be able to suspect a ruptured ICA aneurysm in the presence of exophthalmos and a notion of old or recent cranio-encephalic injury. Additionally, due to the high morbidity and mortality of this condition, a monitoring algorithm is necessary for patients with head trauma to facilitate early detection.

Ultrasound Combined with CTA in Diagnosis of Painless Aortic Dissection Combined with Carotid Artery Active Thrombosis: A Case Report

Background: Aortic dissection (AD) is a relatively rare but dreadful illness, often accompanied by severe, sharp (or tearing) back pain or anterior chest pain, as well as acute hemodynamic compromise. Painless dissection has also been reported in rare cases and might be misdiagnosed due to its atypical symptoms leading to catastrophic outcomes. Case presentation: The patient was admitted to the hospital due to right limb weakness with speech inability for more than 10 hours. In the routine cardiac ultrasound examination, the avulsion intimal echo was found in the initial segment of the descending aorta. The rupture range was about 11 mm, and the lumen was separated into real and false lumen. Further computed tomography angiography (CTA) examination confirmed the major arterial dissection (De Bakey Type I). Conclusion: We report a case of painless aortic dissection with active carotid artery thrombosis diagnosed by ultrasound and CTA, and to improve the understanding of painless aortic dissection by reviewing relevant domestic and foreign literature.

An ultrasound simulation method for carotid arteries with a wall structure of three membranes

Ultrasound simulation for carotid arteries is helpful to the performance assessments of vessel wall detection and signal processing methods by using ultrasound techniques. An ul- trasound simulation method of carotid artery wall with a three-membrane structure is proposed in present study. According to the ultrasound speckle distributions varying with the shapes and densities of scatterer distributions, as well as the statistic results of the clinical images, the parameters of distributions, densities and intensities of scatterers for different kinds of tissues in the carotid artery phantoms are determined. Each region is acoustically characterized using FIELD II software to produce the radio frequency echo signals, from which ultrasound images are derived. The results based on 30 simulations show that the echo distributions of the intimae, mediae, adventitias and blood are consistent with the clinical ones. Moreover, compared with the results from the central frequency of 8 MHz, the mean measurements for thicknesses of the intima, media and adventitia membranes, as well as the lumen diameter from the simulation images based on 12 MHz are the same as the preset ones, and the maximum relative errors are the 4.01%, 1.25%, 0.04% and 0.15%, respectively. The simulation under this condition is more realistic.

Metformin effect on internal carotid artery blood flow assessed by area under the curve of carotid artery Doppler in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome

BACKGROUND Insulin resistance(IR)was reported in most polycystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS)cases.Metformin,a biguanide drug,successfully reduced IR.Homeostatic Model Assessment for IR(HOMA-IR)and Doppler parameters assessed metformin's effectiveness.AIM To verify whether the area under the curve of the internal carotid artery(AUC-ICA)Doppler wave can be a useful marker for assessing IR among PCOS cases who presented with menstrual irregularity and were treated with metformin over 6 mo.METHODS An observational,cross-sectional study recruited 54 eligible PCOS women;the anthropometrics were as follows:age,body mass index(BMI),menstrual cycle days,biochemical serum cholesterol,low and high-density lipoprotein,sex hormone-binding globulin,fasting blood glucose,and HOMA-IR,hormonal testosterone,luteinizing hormone over follicle-stimulating hormone ratio,and ultrasonic pulsatility index(PI)and resistance index(RI),carotid artery intima-media thickness(CIMT)and(AUC-ICA)parameters were initially recorded and repeated 3 mo and 6 mo later with metformin tab 500 mg;three times/day for 6 mo.In addition,AUC-ICA was assessed by taking repeated systolic and diastolic wave height measurements.RESULTS Metformin caused a progressive reduction in BMI,menstrual cycle days,biochemical hormonal,and Doppler parameters(CIMT,PI,RI,and AUC-ICA).AUC-ICA correlated strongly to all PCOS parameters.AUC-ICA correlated inversely with treatment time(r=-0.98,P<0.001)and positively with HOMA-IR(r=0.98,P<0.0001).Via the best subset regression model,the AUC-ICA had the highest predictive value for HOMA-IR.CONCLUSION AUC-ICA preceded PI,RI,and CIMT with a strong,meaningful correlation to all PCOS parameters,making it a reliable marker for the assessment of IR,especially during metformin therapy.Further studies are recommended to promote the application in practice.

Idiopathic steno-occlusive disease with bilateral internal carotid artery occlusion:A Case Report

BACKGROUND Moyamoya disease(MMD)is a rare cause of acute stroke and transient ischemic attacks in children.We described clinical,diagnostic features and follow-ups of a young child with acute stroke.CASE SUMMARY We report a 4-year-old girl with left hemiparesis after an acute ischemic stroke.Her history was also significant for repeated left or right focal motor seizures,generalized tonic-clonic convulsions and transient ischemic attacks.Her magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography(CT)of the brain and magnetic resonance angiography,CT angiography and venography on the cerebral vessels revealed evidence of bilateral fronto-parietal ischemic infarctions,occlusion of the right and left internal carotid arteries started at its bifurcation and non-visualization of right and left anterior and middle cerebral arteries.There was evidence of progression in angiography manifested as development of collaterals from the basal perforating vessels,increase in the extent of large intracranial arterial stenosis/occlusion and extensive collateral circulation with predominance from the posterior circulation.Physical and neurological evaluation and comprehensive laboratory investigations excluded an obvious comorbid disease or risk factor for the child’s condition.The diagnosis of MMD was highly suggested as a cause of the child’s steno-occlusive condition.She was treated symptomatically with levetiracetam,an antiepileptic medication.Aspirin was prescribed for secondary prevention.Her clinical manifestations were improved during the three years of follow-up.Revascularization surgery was postponed.CONCLUSION Up to our knowledge,this is the first report for MMD in a child in our country.The clinical improvement and the stabilization of the child’s condition over the 3 years of follow-up could be attributed to the rapid and extensive recruitment of collaterals and absence of risk factors or comorbidities.Revascularization surgery is highly recommended.

Efficacy of Willis covered stent of intracranial pseudoaneurysms in the internal carotid artery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of a novel coated stent in the treatment of intracranial pseudoaneurysm.Methods:MEDLINE,EMBASE,and PubMed databases were searched for literature published between 1990 and April 2022 according to PRISMA guidelines.All studies with≥10 patients reporting successful implantation of Willis covered stent,therapeutic effect,complications,and postoperative follow-up were included.The combined incidence and corresponding 95%confidence intervals were assessed using a generalized linear mixed method and random effects model.Results:Five studies(116 patients with pseudoaneurysms)were included.The experimental groups in the selected studies showed a combined technical success rate of 81.03%(OR=18.31,95%CI=9.39-35.69,I^(2)=79%,P<0.001).Clinical follow-up showed that the complete cure rate was as high as 94.4%after the follow-up(OR=106.81,95%CI=39.08-291.88,I^(2)=0%,P=0.71).Conclusions:Willis covered stent is feasible,safe,and effective in the treatment of intracranial pseudoaneurysm.

Synchronous carotid endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass graft: Four case reports

BACKGROUND One of the major perioperative complications for coronary artery bypass graft(CABG)is stroke.The risk of perioperative stroke after CABG is approximately 2%.Carotid stenosis(CS)is considered an independent predictor of perioperative stroke risk in CABG patients.The optimal management of such patients has been a source of controversy.One of the possible surgical options is synchronous carotid endarterectomy(CEA)and CABG.Here,we have presented 4 cases of successful synchronous CEA and CABG.Our center’s experience with 4 cases of significant carotid artery stenosis,which were successfully managed with combined CEA and CABG,are detailed.The first case was a female who presented for CABG after a ST-elevation myocardial infarction.She had right internal carotid artery(ICA)occlusion and 90%left ICA stenosis.The second case was a male who was electively admitted for CABG.It was discovered that he had left ICA occlusion and 90%right ICA stenosis.The third case was a male with a history of stroke,two months prior to admission.He presented with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction.Preoperatively,it was discovered that he had>90%right ICA stenosis.The final case was a male who was electively admitted for CABG.It was discovered that he had bilateral>90%ICA stenosis.We have also reviewed the current evidence and guidelines for managing CS in patients undergoing CABG.CONCLUSION Our case series demonstrated that synchronous CEA and CABG was safe.A multicenter study with additional patients is needed.It is necessary for clinicians to screen for CS in high-risk patients with features.

Initial clinical experience with Xpert-Pro peripheral self-expanding stent system for internal carotid artery dissection:Two case reports

Background:The standard treatment for internal carotid artery(ICA)dissection is obscure.Current therapeutic strategies include the use of antiplatelet drugs,anticoagulant drugs,intravenous thrombolysis,and endovascular treatment.Endovascular treatment is important in acute internal carotid artery dissection.This study reports two acute internal carotid artery dissection cases that were treated successfully using the Xpert-Pro peripheral selfexpanding stent system.Case summary:The first case was of a 38-year-old male patient with transient speechlessness and paralysis of the right limb in July 2021.Cervical computed tomographic angiography(CTA)showed ICA occlusion on the left side.Digital subtraction angiography(DSA)showed severe stenosis of the C1 segment of the left internal carotid artery with intermural hematoma.The patient subsequently underwent Xpert-Pro peripheral self-expanding stent implantation,and his condition stabilized.The second case was of a 56-year-old male patient with speechlessness and paralysis of the right limb.Cervical CTA showed a dissected left ICA,and DSA showed an occluded left ICA and middle cerebral artery.The patient subsequently underwent stent implantation,and his condition stabilized.

Intravascular ultrasonography assisted carotid artery stenting for treatment of carotid stenosis: Two case reports

BACKGROUND Digital subtraction angiography(DSA),the gold standard of cerebrovascular disease diagnosis,is limited in its diagnostic ability to evaluate arterial diameter.Intravascular ultrasonography(IVUS)has advantages in assessing stenosis and plaque nature and improves the evaluation and effectiveness of carotid artery sten-ting(CAS).CASE SUMMARY Case 1:A 65-year-old man presented with a five-year history of bilateral lower limb weakness due to stroke.Physical examination showed decreased strength(5-/5)in both lower limbs.Carotid artery ultrasound,magnetic resonance angiography,and computed tomography angiography(CTA)showed a right proximal internal carotid artery(ICA)stenosis(70%-99%),acute cerebral infarction,and severe right ICA stenosis,respectively.We performed IVUS-assisted CAS to measure the stenosis and detected a low-risk plaque at the site of stenosis prior to stent implantation.Post-stent balloon dilatation was performed and postoperative IVUS demonstrated successful expansion and adherence.CTA six months postoperatively showed no significant increase in in-stent stenosis.Case 2:A 36-year-old man was admitted with a right common carotid artery(CCA)dissection detected by ultrasound.Physical examination showed no positive neurological signs.Carotid ultrasound and CTA showed lumen dilation in the proximal CCA with an intima-like structure and bulging in the proximal segment of the right CCA with strip-like low-density shadow(dissection or carotid web).IVUS-assisted DSA confirmed right CCA dissection.CAS was performed and intraoperative IVUS suggested a large residual false lumen.Post-stent balloon dilatation was performed reducing the false lumen.DSA three months postoperatively indicated good stent expansion with mild stenosis.CONCLUSION IVUS aids decision-making during CAS by accurately assessing carotid artery wall lesions and plaque nature preoperatively,dissection and stenosis morphology intraoperatively,and visualizing and confirming CAS postoperatively.

Commentary on a case report and literature review of acute carotid stent thrombosis

In this commentary on the article entitled“Acute carotid stent thrombosis:A case report and literature review”,the key points of the article are discussed.Acute carotid stent thrombosis(ACST)in the setting of carotid artery stenting(CAS)represents a rare but potentially catastrophic event.There is a wide range of treatment options available,including carotid endarterectomy,which is generally recommended for cases of refractory ACST.While there is no standard treatment regimen,dual antiplatelet therapy is typically recommended both before and after CAS to reduce risk of ACST.

Carotid-cavernous fistula following mechanical thrombectomy of the tortuous internal carotid artery:A case report

BACKGROUND A carotid-cavernous fistula(CCF)is an abnormal connection between the internal carotid artery(ICA)and the cavernous sinus.Although direct CCFs typically result from trauma or as an iatrogenic complication of neuroendovascular procedures,they can occur as surgery-related complications after mechanical thrombectomy(MT).With the widespread use of MT in patients with acute ischemic stroke complicated with large vessel occlusion,it is important to document CCF following MT and how to avoid them.In this study,we present a case of a patient who developed a CCF following MT and describe in detail the characteristics of ICA tortuosity in this case.CASE SUMMARY A 60-year-old woman experienced weakness in the left upper and lower limbs as well as difficulty speaking for 4 h.The neurological examination revealed left central facial paralysis and left hemiplegia,with a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 9.Head magnetic resonance imaging revealed an acute cerebral infarction in the right basal ganglia and radial crown.Magnetic resonance angiography demonstrated an occlusion of the right ICA and middle cerebral artery.Digital subtraction angiography demonstrated distal occlusion of the cervical segment of the right ICA.We performed suction combined with stent thrombectomy.Then,postoperative angiography was performed,which showed a right CCF.One month later,CCF embolization was performed,and the patient’s clinical symptoms have significantly improved 5 mo after the operation.CONCLUSION Although a CCF is a rare complication after MT,it should be considered.Understanding the tortuosity of the internal carotid-cavernous sinus may help predict the complexity of MT and avoid this complication.

Carotid-subclavian bypass and endovascular aortic repair of Kommerell’s diverticulum with aberrant left subclavian artery:A case report

BACKGROUND Kommerell’s diverticulum(KD)with aberrant left subclavian artery is a rare congenital deformity and also has very little research literature about it(35%of case study).There are three types of aortic arch diverticulum.Even literature concerning the treatment options are limited.CASE SUMMARY We present a case report of a 50-year-old male with KD in the right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery.We conducted a total endovascular repair procedure,which is innovative and will spread more light in the medical world.Our patient has no past medical history and is a non-smoker and non-alcoholic.Patient presented with shortness of breath,chest pain and dizziness for six months.Blood tests were done and computerized tomography(CT)angiogram of the chest confirmed the diagnosis,illustrating showed a 3.9 cm KD.On Day 1,the CT angiogram showed mild dilatation of the thoracic aorta,adjacent esophagus,trachea was compressed and displaced.Surgery was planned as the treatment modality.Carotid-Subclavian artery bypass and endovascular aortic repair was conducted.We used prolene 5-0 C1 sutures to precisely anastomose a 6-mm Dacron graft to the left subclavian artery.Haemostasis was secured and wounds were closed.Protamine was administered and patient was shifted to intensive care unit.Post-operative,patient responded favorably and was discharged.Regular follow-up is done.CONCLUSION The procedure we performed is novel.This will help the cardio-thoracic surgeons a better insight about the full procedures we conducted,thereby bringing more light and better treatment options in managing KD with aberrant subclavian artery.

Association between Fundus Atherosclerosis and Carotid Arterial Atherosclerosis

Objective: To investigate the correlation between fundus atherosclerosis and carotid arterial atherosclerosis. Methods: A total of 516 people undergoing physical examination in Deyang People’s Hospital between June 2020 and December 2022 were randomly selected. Fundus atherosclerosis and carotid arterial atherosclerosis were evaluated by fundus photography and carotid artery ultrasonography, respectively. Results: Among the 516 physical examination patients, 198 (38.4%) had normal fundus examination, and 318 (61.6%) had fundus arteriosclerosis. Among them, 166 cases were of grade I (32.2%), 86 cases were of grade II (16.7%), and 66 cases were of grade III (12.8%). There were 286 cases (55.4%) without carotid atherosclerosis, 201 cases (38.9%) with carotid atherosclerotic plaque, and 33 cases (6.4%) with carotid stenosis. Fundus arteriosclerosis is independently associated with carotid artery intima-media thickness, vulnerable plaques, plaque scores, and carotid artery stenosis (P Conclusion: In summary, there is a close relationship between carotid artery disease and the degree of arteriosclerosis in the eyeground. Fundus photography is a simple, non-invasive, and easily acceptable method of inspection. The results obtained from it are useful in determining the severity of carotid atherosclerosis and guiding early detection and intervention in clinical cases. This can help reduce the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Endovascular Therapy of Internal Carotid Artery Tandem Occlusions and Literature Review

Acute large vessel occlusion is a common cause of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), with high rates of disability and lethality. The incidence of tandem occlusion of the internal carotid artery accounts for about 20% of patients with large vessel occlusion of the anterior circulation in acute ischemic stroke. The low rate of recanalization by intravenous thrombolysis in AIS due to internal carotid artery tandem occlusion, the poor establishment of collateral circulation within a short time, and the complex pathogenesis often suggest a poor prognosis for patients. Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is beneficial for the opening of intracranial large vessel occlusion with internal carotid artery tandem occlusion, there are many problems regarding the emergency management of carotid artery occlusion or stenosis after mechanical thrombectomy, and there are currently no standardized treatment recommendations;The sequential approach to the management of carotid tandem occlusion, the timing of carotid stenting, and the use of antiplatelet agents remain controversial. The current state of research on carotid tandem occlusion is analyzed in the literature to promote clinical understanding of endovascular treatment for patients with acute ischemic stroke due to carotid tandem occlusion.

Research Progress in Surgical Management of Head and Neck Tumors Involving the Carotid Artery

The surgeons adopt the comprehensive treatment method basing on surgery When head and neck tumors involve the carotid artery. At present, there are four surgical treatments, namely, dissection of carotid artery tumor, resection of carotid artery, revascularization after carotid resection, endoarterial implantation of covered stent combined with surgical resection. However, there is currently no consensus on the standard surgical approach to choose. This paper describes the four surgical methods, which are expected to be helpful for head and neck surgeons to choose the surgical methods for head and neck tumors involving the carotid artery.

Endovascular Treatment of Ischemic Stroke due to Acute Carotid Dissection: A Report and Review of the Literature

The efficacy of endovascular therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to tandem occlusion is comparable to that for isolated intracranial occlusion in the anterior circulation. Definitive treatment of carotid dissection-related strokes is currently unproved. The best endovascular technique in this setting remains to be established, but emergency carotid artery stenting (CAS) is frequently considered. We investigated the safety and efficacy of emergency CAS for carotid dissection in patients with acute stroke in current clinical practice.

Fatal Cataclysmic Otorrhagia and Epistaxis Due to a Ruptured Aneurysm of the Petrous Internal Carotid Artery: A Case Report

Background: Aneurysms of the internal carotid artery within the petrous temporal bone are extremely rare;their true incidence is unknown. The exact cause is unclear: they may be congenital or result from trauma, infection, or radiation. Aim: We report a case of massive otorrhagia and epistaxis from a ruptured aneurysm of the petrous internal carotid artery. Case Presentation: A 34-year-old man presented to our department for the first time with repeated left otorrhagia ongoing for 5 years, left sided pulsatile tinnitus and left conductive hearing loss. In his history, we noted a right hemi-corporeal deficit of sudden onset one month ago and the head-CT showed a left frontoparietal subarachnoid hemorrhage without any visualised vascular malformation. Otomicroscopy showed a pulsatile mass visible at the posterior part of the hypotympanum. There was a right-sided hemiparesis estimated at 2/5 with no disorder of the sensitivity. After hemodynamic stabilization, the patient was discharged from the hospital and treatment was scheduled in interventional radiology and neurosurgery unit. Unfortunately the patient presented at home with a cataclysmic hemorrhage by massive otorrhagia and epistaxis and arrived dead at the emergency unit. Conclusion: The treatment of a petrous carotid aneurysm must be carried out quickly considering the risk of rupture leading to a cataclysmic hemorrhage that can be rapidly life threatening.

Significance of ultrasound evaluation of carotid atherosclerotic plaque for diagnosing ischemic cerebrovascular disease

BACKGROUND： Carotid artery is the main source for craniocerebral blood supply. Its intimal plaque formation and arterial stenosis degree both are the risk factors for ischemic cerebrovascular disease.Therefore, the close relationship of carotid atherosclerotic plaque and ischemic cerebrovascular disease, and ultrasound evaluation of carotid atherosclerotic plaque have become the hot spot in studying ischemic cerebrovascular disease.OBJECTIVE： This study was to detect the degree of carotid atherosclerosis of ischemic cerebrovascular disease patients by ultrasonography, and to analyze the situation of carotid atherosclerosis and its relationship with clinic.DESIGN： Clinical randomized concurrent control experiment.SETTING： Lintong Convalescent Hospital of Lanzhou Military Area Command of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS： Totally 60 outpatients and inpatients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease, 42 males and 18 females, admitted to Lintong Convalescent Hospital of Lanzhou Military Area Command of Chinese PLA between January 2006 and December 2006 were involved in the patient group. They met the diagnosis criteria of ischemic cerebrovascular disease constituted by the 4th Cerebrovascular Disease Conference in 1996, and were confirmed to suffer from ischemic cerebrovascular disease by skull CT and MRI. Another 20 subjects who received healthy examination concurrently in the same hospital, 12 males and 8 females, were involved in the control group. Informed consents of detected items were obtained from involved subjects.METHODS： The plaque thickness of mid portion, distal end and crotch of common carotid artery （CCA）,internal carotid artery （ICA）, external carotid artery （ECA） and vertebral artery （VA） of involved subjects,who received health examination was separately detected with color Doppler ultrasonograph （HDI-5000）.Then, total integral of plaque was calculated. The intima-media thickness （IMT） was measured with two-dimensional ultrasonography. The inner diameter stenosis degree of subjects who had plaque was measured. Blood flow parameters were recorded, and stenosis degree and plaque area were calculated. Blood flow volume of bilateral carotid artery and VA was separately measured with ultrasound equipment software,and brain blood flow volume was calculated.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Atherosclerotic degree and blood flow volume of patients of two groups.RESULTS： Sixty patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease and twenty subjects who received health examination participated in the final analysis. ①The IMT thickness, total plaque score, and total plaque area of patient group was significantly superior to that of control group, respectively（ t=5.216 - 10.158, P 〈 0.05 ）.② There were significant differences in the stenosis degree of CCA, ICA and VA between patient group and control group （t=6.720 - 12.816, P 〈 0.05 ） . ③ The blood flow volume of CCA, ICA, VA and brain of patient group was significantly lower than that of control group, respectively （t=2.872 - 10.860, P 〈 0.05）.CONCLUSION： Ischemic cerebrovascular disease patients have different degrees of changes in atherosclerosis and arterial blood flow.