【Abstract】
Objective To analyze carotid atheromatous plaque in patients with anterior circulation infarction/transient ischemic attack (TIA) and explore the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and the levels of plasma fibrinogen.
Methods In sixty-nine cases with anterior circulation infarction/TIA, the location, number, characteristic of carotid atheromatous plaque and diameter of carotid artery and Intima-media thickness (IMT) of bifurcation of common carotid artery were assessed by Doppler ultrasonography, and other related indexes, such as blood pressure, NIHSS, the level of plasma fibrinogen and D-Dimer were evaluated.
Results The atheromatous plaques were most in bifurcation of common carotid artery (52.29%).The level of plasma fibrinogen in the group of IMT≥0.9 mm was obviously higher than that in the group of IMT<0.9 mm (P<0.05). The numbers of carotid atheromatous plaque and IMT in the group of high level fibrinogen (≥3.0 g/L) were obviously higher than that in the group of low level fibrinogen (P<0.01), and the level of plasma D-Dimer between the both groups also has significant difference (P<0.01). The IMT of bifurcation of common carotid artery was directly associated with the systolic pressure, diastolic pressure and level of plasma fibrinogen(r=4.92, 5.26, 6.68, all P<0.05).
Conclusion As one of the most important risk factors of ischemic stroke, the level of plasma fibrinogen was directly associated with carotid atherosclerosis in patients with anterior circulation infarction/TIA.
