Background: Increased carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) has been identified as an independentand early marker of generalized atherosclerosis, and is associated with increased risk ofischemic stroke. This study was performed to investigate the relation of carotid artery IMT to strokeseverity and clinical disability in patients with acute noncardioembolic ischemic stroke.
Methods: Subjects were 381 patients with acute noncardioembolic ischemic stroke. The carotid arterial wallthickness was measured using high resolution B-mode ultrasound. National Institute of HealthStroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were used to assess the severity of neurologicaldeficit on admission and clinical disability on discharge respectively. Univariate regressionanalysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between carotid artery IMT and clinicaloutcome.
Results: Carotid artery IMT was significantly correlated with NIHSS (R2=0.0102, p=0.049)and mRS scores (R2=0.0297, p=0.001).
Conclusions: Measurement of carotid artery IMT may behelpful in predicting the degree of clinical outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Journal of Neurosonology 4(1):14-18, 2012
Key Words: Carotid artery intima-media thickness, Noncardioembolic ischemic stroke, NIHSS, mRS