Aim. To develope and justify the use of the abbreviated protocol of ultrasound duplex scanning (DS) of the carotid arteries (CA) to detect atherosclerotic changes in the carotid system in various groups of cardiovascular risk and to reduce the time of DS, based on solving a “narrow” task — identifying an atheroma.Material and methods. Ultrasound CA examination was carried out in the department of ultrasound studying methods in National Medical Research Center of Cardiology. Forty three patients aged 32 to 81 years (mean 56±13 years) who are hospitalized in A. L. Myasnikov Institute of Clinical Cardiology Institute of Clinical Cardiology were examined. DS was performed with the use of the ultrasonic system “IU 22” (Philips) with a linear sensor with 3-9 MHz. Three types of DS protocol were used — standard protocol (with automatic measurement of intima-media thickness (IMT) of common carotid artery (CCA)), abbreviated protocol 2 (atheroma and IMT of CCA), abbreviated protocol 1 (atheroma).Results. The work showed a decrease in DS time when conducting a abbreviated protocol 2 by 32,1% or 1,5 times, a shortened protocol 1 — by 72,1% or approximately 3,5 times compared with the standard DS protocol, while the efficiency of atheroma detecting has not decreased. A decision-making algorithm has been developed on the basis of conducting an ultrasound SA examination using abbreviated protocols.Conclusion. The introduction of a abbreviated protocol of ultrasound DS will significantly reduce the time and increase the cost-effectiveness of early diagnosis of atherosclerosis.

It was studied the analysis of published data on the opportunities and prospects of using the three-dimensional ultrasound imaging method for the atherosclerotic vascular lesions evaluation. It is shown that 3D-ultrasound is one of the most effective and highly informative diagnostic noninvasive lesions of arterialpools. Three-dimensional reconstruction significantly increased the capabilities of traditional ultrasound, allowing a vessel in the image of the investigated area, and receive its projections sloping section, raising the possibility of a detailed description of the pathological process features. The features and stages of three-dimensional images construction, the algorithms of its analysis, the ability to assess the atherosclerotic plaques characteristics: volume, structure and surface condition of the plaque. The analysis reports comparing diagnostic features 3D-ultrasound and other imaging techniques in the study of atherosclerotic arteries, the advantages of the method: non-invasive, portable, reducing discomfort for the patient. It was concluded about the prospects of research on possibilities of three-dimensional ultrasound in the atherosclerotic changes of the carotid, femoral artery and aorta visualization; defining the structure and volume of atherosclerotic plaques, as well as to assess the state of the arterial wall after endovascular or surgical procedures.

Atherosclerosis and it’s clinical implications (myocardial infarction, stroke, intermittent lameness) is a serious medico-social problem in Russia. Statins (or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) are the first-choice agents to prevent cardiovascular disease events. The paper presents the results of early regression studies and modern regression studies using MRI imaging concerning the regression or stabilization atherosclerosis and rationale and baseline characteristics of russian regression study “FREGAT”.

OBJECTIVE:To estimate the possibilities of using three-dimensional ultrasound study (3D USS) in the diagnosis of the sizes and structure of an atherosclerotic plaque (ASP).MATERIAL AND METHODS:The data obtained by examination of 20 heterogeneous ASPs in the carotid artery wall, by applying 3D USS and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were compared. Intra- and interoperator reproducibilities were assessed by the Bland-Altman method; the volume of each plague was measured by two (contour and ellipse) methods. The contour method was used to estimate all plagues; the ellipse method was applied to 13 of the 20 plagues, which was due to the shape of ASPs that rarely had an ellipsoid shape.RESULTS:Intra- and interoperator reproducibilities in ASP volume estimation by 3D USS was as follows: with the use of contour and ellipse algorithms, the coefficient of variation was 7.72 and 3.77%, respectively; with these algorithms, the interoperator reproducibility was 8.18 and 6.21%, respectively; the derived values were not greater than those allowed for medical studies (10%). The coefficients of variations for MRI in the estimation of ASP sizes were significantly higher for inter- and intrareproducibilities (68.82 and 43.4%, respectively).CONCLUSIONS:The results of this investigation agree with thedata available in the literature and support that 3D USS is an effective diagnostic me-hod in evaluating the magnitude of an ather-sclerotic process.

Purpose: According to foreign clinical studies the volume of atherosclerotic plaque (ASP) – a more accurate parameter to evaluate the prognosis of cardiovascular disease compared to a conventional ultrasound, such as the percentage of stenosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate interobserver reproducibility of methods for determining the volume of ASP by a three-dimensional ultrasound scanning.