Local rigidity of the walls of the carotid artery at the site of formation of atherosclerotic plaques in patients with arterial hypertension

Aim: To study the local elastic properties of the arterial wall at the site of atherosclerotic plaque and adjacent areas «healthy» wall of the common carotid artery in patients with arterial hypertension (AH).Materials and methods. The study included 25 patients (3 men, 22 women) with AH 1-2 grad in combination with moderate carotid atherosclerosis and lipid metabolism disorders. All patients underwent conventional ultrasound duplex scanning of the carotid arteries to determine the severity of atherosclerotic carotid arteries and the structure of atherosclerotic plaque. Determination of parameters of the local rigidity - the elasticity of the arterial wall and the atherosclerotic plaque, was carried out on the ultrasound system ALOKA a7. Was scanned and the surroundingarea atherosclerotic plaque sections of the arterial wall in the B/M mode using echo-tracking method.Results. A significant increase in the hardness of the arterial wall in atherosclerotic plaque as in the adventitia and its surface, as compared with the adjacent «healthy» wall of the carotid artery. Atherosclerotic plaque base has significantly greater rigidity and less flexibility than its surface. Conclusion. The formation of atheroma by the action of arterial pulse pressure develops heterogeneity elastic properties carotid wall not only along the artery, but in the atherosclerotic plaque (between its base and the surface). This indicates of different mobility plots artery and plaque and can lead to the formation of the mechanical instability of atherosclerotic plaque in patients with hypertension.