Sonographic Assessment of Intima Media Thickness of Common Carotid Artery in Normotensive and Hypertensive Individuals

Abstract: Intimal medial thickness (IMT) is associated with many cardiovascular diseases as atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, stroke and hypertension etc. Intimal medial thickness of common carotid arteries (CCA) can be measured by high-resolution modality i.e, B-Mode Ultrasonography. Objective: The objective of this study was sonographic assessment of intima media thickness of common carotid artery in normotensive and hypertensive individuals. Methods: A total of 70 individuals both hypertensive (40) and normal (30) were included in the study and IMT of both right and left CCA was measured. Intima-media thickness of the anterior wall of the distal part of CCA both right and left was taken in hypertensive and normal (without hypertension and neurologic disease) in Pakistani population. Results: In this case control study 70 individuals were scanned, 40 (57.1%) individuals had prior history of hypertension and other 30 (42.9%) were without any prior history of hypertension or any neurologic disease. A significant correlation of intimal medial thickness with increasing age (r=0.6 and P value of .000) was found. The atherosclerotic changes effect the IMT, as the patients with plaques had increased IMT as compared to those without plaques. Sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in hypertensive and normotensive patients was 50.0 and 66.7. Sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in present and absent plaque patients was 87.5 and 87.1. Conclusions: IMT increases with advancing age. IMT also increases in patients with other signs of atherosclerosis such as 1 University Institute of Radiological Sciences and Medical Imaging Technology , Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan plaque formation. Keywords: Common Carotid Artery, Intimia Media Thickness, Plaques, Hypertension