To Assess Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis in Normo & Primary Hypertensive Individuals Using B Scale Ultrasound and Colour Doppler

Background: Cerebral ischemic stroke is life-threatening and debilitating neurological disease, it is the third leading cause of death in the world. Studies have shown that there is a close relationship between carotid artery stenosis and ischemic cerebral vascular disease. The major benefit of sonography is its capacity to describe plaque and identify plaques with increased risk of embolization, in addition, to evaluate the degree of stenosis. To ass Aim: ess carotid artery atherosclerosis in normo & primary hypertensive individuals using b scale ultrasound and colour doppler A Methods: time-bound, hospital-based cross sectional study, total 140 patients, 70 hypertensive patients and 70 normotensive were enrolled. The baseline parameters such as age, gender, height, weight, BMI, hemodynamic and clinical parameters were recorded. The carotid arteries and other Doppler measures, such as Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV), were evaluated using B-mode ultrasonography. Evaluations were conducted on carotid intima media thickness and features of plaque, including ulceration, bleeding, smooth and uneven margins. Statistical parameters such as Chi square test and Student's t-test were used for analysis. Results: The mean intima media thickness (IMT) at Right, Left and Average (left and right) side were significantly more in Hypertensive group (0.78±0.29, 0.79±0.29 and 0.83±0.37 ) as compared to Normotensives group (0.69±0.24, 0.69±0.23, and 0.72±0.26). The mean Resistive index (RI) at Right, Left and Average (left and right) side were lower in Hypertensive group as compared to Normotensives group but not significantly different. The association of plaques changes in both groups was found to be statistically significant (p<0.001). The frequencies of plaques changes was not significantly changed in between both groups. Conclusion: Compared to normotensive people, those with hypertension had a higher prevalence of carotid artery anomalies, such as thickening of the carotid intima-media wall, a marker of the degree of atherosclerosis.