Common Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness in Patients with Ischaemic and Haemorrhagic Stroke

Abstract

Objective: An increase in the intima-media thickness of the common carotid after (CCA-IMT) is generally considered as an early marker of atherosclerosis and has been associated with a higher risk of stroke and myocardial infarction.

Study Design: Cross-sectional Study

Place and Duration Study: This study was conducted in Department of Medicine at Karachi Medical and Dental College and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital from June 2011 to December 2011.

Materials and Methods: We determined cross-sectionally the diagnostic ability of CCA-IMT to distinguish between brain infarction and intracerebral haemorrhage. Total 150 patients aged >40 years of both sexes with hemorrhagic and ischaemic stroke were included, while patients with history of endartectomy, head injury, space occupying lesion and on anticoagulation were excluded. All information was recorded on proforma. Thickness of common carotid artery of ≥0.5 mm was considered significant. Analysis was performed through SPSS-10.0. Frequencies and percentages were computed to present categorical variables including stroke type and wall thickness of common carotid artery in terms of (≤ 0.5 mm or > 0.5 mm). Chi-square test was applied to see association of increased CCA-IMT with stroke type. Statistical significance was taken at p < 0.05.  Among 150 patients of stroke, 13 (8.7%) patients of left and 8 (5.3%) patients of right had increased CCA-IMT. The CCA-IMT was significantly higher in patients with ischemic stroke patients (p=0.001).

Results: The present results demonstrate the possible predictive power of non-invasive measure meant of CCA-IMT with respect to brain infarction versus intracerebral hemorrhage and deserve further investigation

Conclusion: Despite high prevalence of hypertension in patients with haemorrhagic stroke, increased CCA-IMT which is considered as an early marker of atherosclerosis is strongly related to ischaemic stroke than haemorrhagic stroke.