ESTIMATION OF ELASTIC MODULUS, STIFFNESS, DISTENSIBILITY, COMPLIANCE AND YOUNG MODULUS IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS OF HUMAN COMMON CAROTID ARTERY

In this study, pressure-strain elastic modulus, stiffness, distensibility, cross-sectional ‎compliance and Young modulus of the common carotid artery were evaluated in 30 ‎subjects, normal and atherosclerosis, non-invasively. The diameter changes and cross-‎sectional changes in systolic and diastolic phases of the carotid artery were measured ‎by real time B-mode sonography and color Doppler, respectively. Indirect blood ‎pressure measurement was made by manometer immediately after measurement of the ‎pulsatile vessel diameter and area. Elastic parameters were estimated from the ‎diameter relative changes, cross-section relative changes and the systolic and diastolic ‎blood pressure in the brachial artery. The relative diameter changes in mild stenosis ‎and severe stenosis compared to normal group are not expected‏.‏‎
‎ The results of evaluation of elastic parameters show that in mild stenosis, pressure-‎strain elastic modulus, stiffness and Young modulus decreased but in severe stenosis ‎they increased relative to normal arteries. In mild stenosis, distensibility and cross-‎sectional compliance increased but in severe stenosis these parameters decreased ‎relative to normal. Of course, mechanical parameters of atherosclerotic group are ‎significantly different from the normal carotid artery. By applying this method, we ‎can detect atherosclerosis from normal carotid artery (Iranian Heart Journal 2003; 4 ‎‎(2,3): 68-74).‎