Mechanical and structural characteristics of carotid plaques by combined analysis with echotracking system and MR imaging.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to correlate the arterial mechanics of carotid atherosclerotic plaques assessed from echotracking with their composition by high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI).

Background: Analysis of the relationship between mechanical parameters and structure of the plaque allows better understanding of the mechanisms leading to mechanical fatigue of plaque material, plaque rupture, and ischemic events. A specific longitudinal gradient of strain (reduced strain, i.

Long-term reduction in aortic stiffness: a 5.3-year follow-up in routine clinical practice.

Background: Whether a direct blood pressure-independent reduction in aortic stiffness can occur after several years of antihypertensive treatment has never been unequivocally demonstrated.

Method: In this observational study, performed under conditions of routine clinical practice, we included 97 patients (age 63 ± 11 years) with treated essential hypertension who attended the outpatient hypertension clinic of a university hospital, had a significant blood pressure (BP) lowering under treatment before the first measurement of aortic stiffness, and had at least one additional measurement of aortic stiffness during follow-up. Aortic stiffness and carotid pulse pressure (PP) were determined through carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and applanation tonometry, respectively.

Carotid plaque, arterial stiffness gradient, and remodeling in hypertension.

The analysis of plaque mechanics along the longitudinal axis (bending strain) may provide useful information because repetitive bending strain of an atherosclerotic plaque can fatigue the wall material and result in plaque rupture. Whether essential hypertension is associated with a specific pattern of bending strain has not yet been determined. The study included 92 patients with an atherosclerotic plaque on the common carotid artery: 66 patients with essential hypertension, either treated or not, and 26 normotensive patients.

Inheritance of arterial lesions in renal fibromuscular dysplasia.

We have previously shown that patients with renal fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) have asymptomatic carotid lesions and that familial forms may occur. The objective of this study was to test whether carotid lesions could be detected in relatives of familial cases. High-resolution echotracking of the carotid artery was performed in 47 relatives of 13 cases from six families.

Influence of pravastatin on carotid artery structure and function in dyslipidemic HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy.

Forty-two pravastatin-treated HIV-positive patients and 42 sex, age, and smoking status-matched hypercholesterolemic HIV-positive patients not under lipid-lowering treatment were compared for differences in intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery (CCA) and aortic stiffness. Pravastatin had no influence on carotid artery structure and function, or aortic stiffness. Age and body mass index were independent determinants of IMT of the CCA.