Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26869775›Full record

ArticleClinical interventions in aging2016

Ratio between carotid artery stiffness and blood flow - a new ultrasound index of ischemic leukoaraiosis.

Monika Turk, Marjan Zaletel, Janja Pretnar-Oblak

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical interventions in aging, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 23% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  3. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Monika TurkDepartment of Vascular Neurology and Intensive Neurological Therapy, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Marjan ZaletelDepartment of Vascular Neurology and Intensive Neurological Therapy, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Janja Pretnar-OblakDepartment of Vascular Neurology and Intensive Neurological Therapy, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Ljubljana University Medical Centre · SI

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIschemic leukoaraiosis (ILA) is associated with cognitive decline and aging. Its pathophysiology is believed to be ischemic in origin due to its association with cerebrovascular risk factors and similarity in location to lacunar infarctions. ILA diagnosis is still based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as exclusion of other causes of white matter hyperintensities. So far, there are no known confirming diagnostic tests of ILA. Ultrasound studies have recently shown increased large artery stiffness, increased cerebrovascular resistance, and lower cerebral blood flow in patients with ILA. Increased arterial stiffness and decreased blood flow could have a synergistic effect, and their ratio could be a useful diagnostic index of ILA.

methodsIn this post hoc analysis, we introduced new ILA indices (ILAi) that are ratios of the carotid stiffness parameters (pulse wave velocity beta [PWVβ], pressure-strain elasticity modulus [Ep], β index), and diastolic and mean blood flows in the internal carotid artery: Q-ICAd and Q-ICAm. We compared the ILAi of 52 patients with ILA and 44 sex- and risk factor-matched controls with normal MRI of the head. ILA diagnosis was based on MRI and exclusion of other causes of white matter hyperintensities. The diagnostic significance of ILAi for the prediction of ILA was analyzed.

resultsAll ILAi significantly differed between the groups; the most significant were PWVβ/Q-ICAd (ILA group: 1.96±0.64 vs control group: 1.56±0.40, P=0.001) and PWVβ/Q-ICAm (ILA group: 1.13±0.32 vs control group: 0.94±0.25, P=0.003). All ILAi were significantly associated with ILA (P<0.01) and were significant independent predictors of ILA. All ILAi were also sensitive and specific for predicting ILA (area under the curve: 0.632-0.683, P<0.05).

conclusionThe new ultrasound indices significantly differed between patients with ILA and the control group and were significant predictors of ILA. A combination of lower carotid blood flow and increased carotid stiffness represented as ILAi probably has a diagnostic value in patients with ILA.

Indexed as

Vascular StiffnessBlood Flow VelocityCarotid ArteriesCerebrovascular CirculationFemaleHumansLeukoaraiosisLogistic ModelsMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedMultivariate AnalysisPulse Wave AnalysisROC CurveUltrasonography, DopplerWhite Mattercarotid blood flowcarotid duplex ultrasoundcarotid stiffnesswhite matter hyperintensities

Identifiers

PMID26869775
PMCPMC4734727
OpenAlexW2267138502

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.