| Summary: | Introduction: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) has been associated with lower peak systolic velocity (PSV) on penile Doppler measurements [1]. This study establishes whether carotid ultrasound (US) PSV was associated with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) outputs, which in turn may contribute to IHD pathogenesis.
Methods: A sample of 57 subjects (with IHD: 27, without IHD: 30) had US velocity profiles (left- common carotid artery) determined between 10–12 equi-spaced points. Bezier curve fitting was used to fit the profile through the measured velocity points for a normalised diameter. PSV was correlated against CFD results such as wall shear stress (WSS) [2]. Difference in PSV between individuals with/without IHD was studied via t-test. Linear regression was carried out to see if peak systolic velocity was associated with CFD outputs. Any significant associations were analysed within stratified groups (with/without IHD).
Results: PSV was significantly lower (p = 0.042) in subjects with IHD (with IHD: 53.6±17.3 cm/s, without IHD: 62.8±16.1 cm/s). PSV was associated with carotid bulb average pressure drop (p < 0.001), area of average bulb WSS (<1 Pa: p = 0.016, <2 Pa: p = 0.006, <3 Pa: p = 0.001). All the above associations remained significant in individuals with IHD (average bulb pressure drop: p = 0.001, average bulb WSS (<1 Pa: p = 0.013, <2 Pa: p = 0.008, <3 Pa: p = 0.003). In subjects without IHD, PSV was associated with only average bulb pressure drop (p = 0.016).
Conclusions: This study suggests that further work on PSV and its associations with CFD outputs is required in individuals with and without IHD in various vascular beds.
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