Abstract:

Objective This was a meta-analysis to assess the correlation between carotid plaque stability and the occurrence of ischemic stroke by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Methods Articles published in both Chinese and English language regarding the correlation between plaque stability and ischemic stroke assessed by CEUS were searched in Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, CQVIP, China BioMedical Literature Database (CBM), PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase. Data were analyzed using Stata 17.0 software. Results A total of 10 articles with 1, 053 plaques were included in the meta-analysis. Patients with unstable plaques assessed by CEUS had a significantly higher risk of ischemic stroke than those with stable plaques (RR=3.54, 95%CI 3.00-4.18). Subgroup analyses showed that sample size and criteria for diagnosing ischemic stroke had an effect on the results of CEUS assessment of the relationship between plaque stability and ischemic stroke. The use of ultrasound instruments from the same or different manufacturers did not have a significant effect on the results, but there was a tendency to use ultrasound instruments from the same manufacturer more often than those from different manufacturers. The chosen study population had no effect on the results. Conclusion There is a close correlation between carotid plaque stability assessed by CEUS and the occurrence of ischemic stroke. When CEUS identifies unstable plaques, it can predict ischemic stroke events, yet more high-quality research is needed.

Key words: contrast-enhanced ultrasound, carotid plaque, stability, ischaemic stroke, meta-analysis