The Role of Ultrasound Shear Wave Dispersion Imaging in Evaluating Carotid Viscoelasticity:A Preliminary Study

Objective: To evaluate the carotid viscoelasticity using ultrasound shear wave dispersion imaging (USWD) and determine its feasibility.Methods: Fifty-three volunteers were recruited and divided into the group1 (≥50 years old) and group 2 (<50 years old). The shear wave elastic modulus (SWE-AR and SWE-PR) and shear wave dispersion indexes (SWD-AR and SWD-PR), which located at the anterior and posterior walls of the common carotid artery (CCA), were obtained by USWD, and compared with pulse wave velocity (PWV). Pearson correlation analysis was applied to analyze the related factors of viscoelasticity.Results: Before and after body mass index, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were adjusted, SWE-AR, SWE-PR, SWD-AR and SWD-PR were all higher in the group 2 than those of group 1 (all P < 0.05). In all subjects, SWE was negatively correlated with age, SBP, DBP and PWV, respectively (r = -0.282, -0.374, -0.321, -0.256 and all P < 0.05). The SWD was negatively correlated with PWV in the group 1, while positively correlated with SBP in the group 2 (r=-0.393 and r=0.366, all P < 0.05).Conclusion: The viscoelasticity of arterial wall can be assessed by USWD. It provides a new way to describe arterial disease for clinical study.

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