Using real-time shear wave elastography and color pulse wave imaging to analyze the longitudinal and circumferential hardness of the common carotid artery in patients with hypertension and the differences of the hardness of the common carotid artery between patients with different levels of hypertension, and to explore the value of two techniques in the diagnosis of hypertension.

120 patients with hypertension were selected as study group. In the meantime, 40 patients with normal blood pressure were selected as control group. The real-time shear wave elasticity was performed to obtain the elastic modules (Mean、Max、Min) of the anterior and posterior wall of all the common carotid artery of the patients, as the longitudinal hardness range of the common carotid artery wall. The color pulse wave imaging was performed to obtain the pulse wave velocity of hypertensive carotid artery, including the pulse wave velocity in the beginning of the systol and the pulse wave velocity in the end of the systol of normal carotid artery, as the circumferential hardness range of the common carotid artery wall.

The elastic modulus values of the anterior wall of the common carotid artery in hypertensive patients were: Mean (65.46±8.81) kPa, Max (68.92±9.58) kPa, Min(60.73±8.58) kPa. The elastic modulus values of the posterior wall of the common carotid artery in hypertensive patients were: Mean (61.43±8.92) kPa, Max (65.56±9.12) kPa, Min (56.98±9.14) kPa. The pulse wave velocity of the common carotid artery wall in hypertensive patients were: PWVBS (6.85±1.08) m/s, PWVES (9.48±1.48) m/s. The elastic modulus values (Mean, Max, Min) of the anterior and posterior wall of the common carotid artery in hypertensive patients were higher than those with normal blood pressure (P<0.05), so does the pulse wave velocity (PWVBS and PWVES) (P<0.05). The elastic modulus values (Mean, Max and Min) of the carotid artery wall (anterior and posterior wall) in patients with hypertension were statistically significant in different levels, and positively correlated with the progression of hypertension (P<0.05). The difference of pulse wave velocity (PWVBS and PWVES) of carotid artery wall in patients with hypertension at different levels were statistically significant, and positively correlated with the progression of hypertension (P<0.05).

Real-time shear wave elastography and color pulse wave imaging provide a valuable reference for grading diagnosis of hypertension. With the increase of the progression of hypertension, the longitudinal and circumferential hardness of common carotid artery in hypertensive patients showed an increasing trend, and two techniques had consistency.