Patterns of Neck Main Arteries Morphometry and Echocardiography Data

Objective: to compare the objective results of ultrasound imaging of neck main arteries with echocardiography data, to assess the correlation patterns between the morphological characteristics of the structures.

Material and methods. A total of 244 volunteers (who had no signs of significant hemodynamic disorders, surgical interventions on the heart and studied vessels) were examined, who underwent ultrasound imaging of the carotid arteries and echocardiography. All studies were performed using a single technique with an assessment of the diameters of common carotid artery (CCA), internal carotid artery (ICA), external carotid artery (ECA), vertebral arteries (VA), as well as intima-media complex (IMC). The echographic characteristics of the aortic wall, aortic and mitral valves were considered. The data obtained were grouped and subjected to statistical analysis.

Results. Based on the diagnostic data obtained by echocardiography, eight groups were formed: (1) with signs of changes in the aorta; (2) with changes at the level of the aorta and aortic valve; (3) with changes in the aorta and mitral valve; (4) with changes in the aortic and mitral valves; (5) without signs of changes in the aorta, aortic and mitral valves; (6) with changes only in the aortic valve; (7) with changes only in the mitral valve; (8) with changes only at the level of the aortic and mitral valves. When assessing the differences between pairs of groups in cases of diagnosis of structural changes in the aortic walls and valvular heart apparatus, the indicators differed slightly, more often for IMC value. There were differences for ICA diameter when comparing Groups 1 and 4. Morphometric parameters of VA in cases of diagnosed changes did not reflect significant differences. The largest CCA diameter (5.8±0.7 mm) was noted in combination with changes in the aortic wall and heart valves. The smallest CCA diameter (5.0± 0.3) mm was in Group 6. The largest ICA (4.6±0.4 mm) and ECA (3.6±0.4) diameters were with changes in the mitral valve. The smallest ICA diameter (4.1±0.4 mm) was observed with changes only in the aortic walls. The smallest values for ECA and VA diameters were 2.8 mm, combined with changes in the aortic valve only. The most pronounced differences were obtained when comparing data in the absence of significant changes in the aortic walls and heart valves for CCA, VA, and ECA IMC.

Conclusion. The presented results expand our understanding of the individual features of neck main arteries, accompanying changes in the aortic walls and valvular apparatus of the heart.

1. Mahendiran T, Collet C, De Bruyne B. Coronary-artery autoregulation with increasing stenosis. N Engl J Med. 2024; 390(21): 2030–2. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2402216.

2. Limanto DH, Chang HW, Kim DJ, et al. Coronary artery size as a predictor of Y-graft patency following coronary artery bypass surgery. Medicine. 2021; 100(2): e24063. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000024063.

3. Baibhav B, Gedela M, Moulton M, et al. Role of invasive functional assessment in surgical revascularization of coronary artery disease. Circulation. 2018; 137(16): 1731–9. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.031182.

4. Jovin DG, Katlaps GJ, Sumption KF. Coronary artery bypass graft markers: history, usage, and effects. Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020; 68(5): 453–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-02001325-2.

5. Teman NR, Hawkins RB, Charles EJ, et al. Investigators for the Virginia Cardiac Services Quality Initiative. Minimally invasive vs open coronary surgery: a multi-institutional analysis of cost and outcomes. Ann Thorac Surg. 2021; 111(5): 1478–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2020.06.136.

6. Jahangiri M, Mani K, Nowell J. Does minimally invasive coronary artery surgery have prognostic and cost benefits? Ann Thorac Surg. 2022; 114(2): 609–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2021.06.050.

7. Razavi AC, Raggi P, Whelton SP. Coronary artery calcium: the canary in the coal mine. Atherosclerosis. 2024; 392: 117499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.117499.

8. Khasanov AKh, Davletshin RA, Karamova IM, et al. Gender features of early stenotic lesions of coronary arteries in high-risk patients with the presence of multifocal atherosclerosis. Eurasian Heart Journal. 2018; 4: 52–63 (in Russ). https://doi.org/10.38109/2225-1685-2018-4-52-63.

9. Sagatelyan AA, Konstantinova EV, Bogdanova AA, et al. Features of atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome. Medical Alphabet. 2022; 20: 43–7 (in Russ). https://doi.org/10.33667/2078-56312022-20-43-47.

10. Bos D, Arshi B, van den Bouwhuijsen QJA, et al. Atherosclerotic carotid plaque composition and incident stroke and coronary events. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021; 77(11): 1426–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2021.01.038.

11. Garg PK, Bhatia HS, Allen TS, et al. Assessment of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic people in vivo: measurements suitable for biomarker and Mendelian randomization studies. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2024; 44(1): 24–47. https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.123.320138.

12. Moshkin AS, Khalilov MA, Nikolenko VN, Moshkina LV. Effect of the relative position of extracranial arteries on cerebral hemodynamics. Anatomy in the 21st century: tradition and modernity. In: Proceedings of the All-Russian Scientific Conference dedicated to the 120th anniversary of Professor M.G. Prives and the 125th anniversary of the Department of Clinical Anatomy and Operative Surgery of the First Pavlov Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Saint Petersburg, May 16–18, 2024. Voronezh: Nauchnaya kniga; 2024: 161–3 (in Russ).

13. Momcilovic D, Begrich C, Stumpf MJ, et al. Preclinical atherosclerotic burden in carotid and lower extremity arteries in adults with congenital heart disease. Vasa. 2023; 52(4): 257–63. https://doi.org/10.1024/0301-1526/a001073.

14. Nikolenko VN, Moshkin AS, Khalilov MA, et al. Assessment of hemodynamic parameters based on the results of ultrasound Dopplerography in different variants of the position of vessels in the area of bifurcation of the common carotid arteries. Regional Blood Circulation and Microcirculation. 2024; 23(2): 15–23 (in Russ). https://doi.org/10.24884/16826655-2024-23-2-15-23.

15. Moshkin AS, Khalilov MA, Shmeleva SV, et al. The organization or personified treatment of diseases of coronary arteries considering analysis of bifurcation modifications. Problems of Social Hygiene, Public Health and History of Medicine. 2021; 29(4): 951–6 (in Russ). https://doi.org/10.32687/0869866X-2021-29-4-951-956.

16. Schwarzman LS, Griza DS, Frazin LJ, et al. Coronary artery radial deformation and velocity in native and stented arteries. J Interv Cardiol. 2022; 2022: 5981027. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5981027.

17. Ihle-Hansen H, Vigen T, Berge T, et al. Carotid plaque score for stroke and cardiovascular risk prediction in a middle-aged cohort from the general population. J Am Heart Assoc. 2023; 12(17): e030739. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.123.030739.

18. Varavin NA, Kharitonov MA, Tarasov VA. Heart dysfunction and features of vascular wall remodeling in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Russian Military Medical Academy Reports. 2020; 39(1S): 26–9 (in Russ).

19. Andreeva IV, Grigorev AS, Kalina NV. Tissue biomarkers of early vascular aging. Digital Diagnostics. 2021; 2(2S): 8–9 (in Russ). https://doi.org/10.17816/DD83173.

20. Meshkov AN, Ershova AI, Shalnova SA, et al. Crosssectional study to estimate the prevalence of familial hypercholesterolemia in selected regions of the russian federation: relevance, design of the study and initial characteristics of the participants. Rational Pharmacotherapy in Cardiology. 2020; 16(1): 24–32 (in Russ). https://doi.org/10.20996/1819-6446-2020-02-17.

21. Kanorsky SG, Mammadov MN. Coronary and peripheral arteries revascularization in patients with diabetes mellitus: a cardiologist's view. International Heart and Vascular Disease Journal. 2021; 9(31): 4–13 (in Russ). https://doi.org/10.24412/2311-1623-2021-31-4-13.

22. Fortier JH, Ferrari G, Glineur D, et al. Implications of coronary artery bypass grafting and percutaneous coronary intervention on disease progression and the resulting changes to the physiology and pathology of the native coronary arteries. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2018; 54(5): 809–16. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezy171.