Carotid Artery Elasticity Using the Phased-Tracking Method is Associated with Cardiac Diastolic Dysfunction in Subjects with Acute Myocardial Infarction

The carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is associated with cardiovascular disease. It was recently reported that it is possible to detect carotid artery elasticity during the early stage of atherosclerosis. However, the relationship between carotid artery elasticity and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is not known. This study investigated whether carotid artery elasticity was associated with AMI. 27 patients with AMI (male/female = 21/6, mean age 65±11 years), and 27 control subjects who were outpatients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus or dyslipidemia were enrolled in this study. The carotid artery elasticity, IMT, PWV, AI and FMD were measured. The phased-tracking method using the high-frequency compact ultrasonography was applied to artery elasticity, and the elasticity and IMT were measured at the same location. The patients with AMI had harder elasticity (329.5±140.0 vs. 266.4±45.8kPa, p < 0.05) and thicker mean IMT (0.88±0.24 vs. 0.76±0.13mm, p < 0.05) than the controls. Max IMT, PWV, AI and FMD did not exhibit any difference between the patients with AMI and the controls. The carotid artery elasticity did not significantly correlate with EF, E/A, or TEI index in AMI group. However, it significantly correlates with E/e' (r = 0.43, p < 0.05). These findings indicate that the carotid artery elasticity is worse in subjects with AMI, and it was associated with cardiac diastolic dysfunction.