Carotid Atherosclerosis is Associated with Middle Cerebral Artery Pulsatility Index

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Pulsatility index (PI) in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) is considered a measure of peripheral vascular resistance. Several established cardiovascular risk factors are common for both MCA PI and carotid atherosclerosis. Accordingly, in the present study we hypothesized an association between ultrasound‐derived indices of carotid atherosclerosis and MCA PI. METHODS All residents in Akershus County, born in 1950, were invited to a cardiovascular examination, The Akershus Cardiac Examination (ACE) 1950 Study (2012‐2015). A thorough ultrasound examination was performed to assess indices of atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries, and PI in the MCAs. In all, 3154 (85.1%) had adequate transcranial and carotid data. Associations between indices of carotid atherosclerosis and MCA PI were assessed by regression analyses adjusted for established cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS Mean age was 64 (standard deviation [SD]: .6) years, and 1,357 (43%) were women. Mean MCA PI was .97 (SD: .17). Participants in the upper quartile of MCA PI had higher pulse pressure, more frequently hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and a history of coronary artery disease. Both carotid plaque score (B .007 [95% CI: .003‐.010]) and carotid intimamedia thickness (B .173 [95% CI: .120‐.226]) were significantly associated with MCA PI in adjusted analysis. The model R2 was .055. CONCLUSION In a population‐based sample of middle‐aged adults, ultrasound‐derived indices of carotid atherosclerosis were independently associated with MCA PI. However, the overall explained variance of MCA PI was low, suggesting other factors than atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk factors to play an important role for MCA PI.

Identification of Potential Key Genes Involved in the Carotid Atherosclerosis

“…However, the efficiency of treatment is insufficient. 5 , 6 Therefore, it is urgent to find therapeutic targets and deepen the understanding of carotid atherosclerosis.…”

12-Hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid inhibits foam cell formation and ameliorates high-fat diet-induced pathology of atherosclerosis in mice

“…We first sought to examine the impact of dietary intake of ω3 fatty acid in the development of obesity and atherosclerosis. To address this issue, we prepared 4 different types of diets; control diets that contain conventional amount 4% (wt/wt) of either soybean oil or linseed oil, and HFDs that contain lard and beef tallow which were supplemented with 10% (wt/wt) of either soybean oil or linseed oil, and maintained mice for 2 months on either the diet, and measured the body weight and pulsatility index and resistive index as indicators of the development of atherosclerosis [23][24][25] . We found that HFD-fed mice showed increased body weight when compared with control diet-fed mice, however, there were no differences between two types of dietary oils, suggesting that dietary ω3 fatty acids have no effect on the development of obesity (Fig.…”

“…Blood flow at the murine common carotid artery was visualized by Pulsed-Wave Doppler mode to measure peak-systolic velocity (PSV), endo-diastolic velocity (EDV) and time-averaged maximum flow velocity (TAMV; Vmean). Pulsatility index and resistive index were calculated by (PSV-EDV)/Vmean, and (PSV-EDV)/PSV, respectively [23][24][25] .…”

Incremental value of the measures of arterial stiffness in cardiovascular risk assessment

“…Increased pulsatile nature of arterial pressure by arterial stiffening promotes the influx of lipids into the subendothelial layer, plaque progression, and weakening of fibrous cap, which leads to plaque rupture [52,53]. The increase in PP accelerates carotid artery atherosclerosis and cerebral small vessel damage [54,55]. Shared risk factors (high blood pressure, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, smoking, inflammation, endothelial cell dysfunction oxidative stress, etc.)…”