Pulse wave velocity (PWV) measured by ultrafast ultrasound imaging can early evaluate arteriosclerosis. The study aimed to establish normal reference range for ufPWV in healthy adults and explore its influencing factors, and evaluate the ufPWV changes on coronary slow flow (CSF). ufPWV at the beginning and end of systole (ufPWV-BS and ufPWV-ES, respectively) was measured in healthy adults (201 cases). CSF was diagnosed based on thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count during coronary angiography. ufPWV-BS and ufPWV-ES were compared between CSF (50 cases) and control groups (50 healthy age-, body mass index-, and blood pressure-matched adults). In healthy adults, average ufPWV-BS and ufPWV-ES was 5.36 ± 1.27 m/s and 6.99 ± 1.93 m/s, respectively. ufPWV-BS and ufPWV-ES positively correlated with age, body mass index, and blood pressure. ufPWV-BS and ufPWV-ES in the CSF group were higher than in the control group (ufPWV-BS, 6.05 ± 1.07 vs. 5.26 ± 0.89 m/s, P < 0.001; ufPWV-ES, 9.07 ± 1.84 vs. 6.84 ± 1.08 m/s, P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that ufPWV-ES was more sensitive than ufPWV-BS. The normal reference range of ufPWV for healthy adults was established. Age, body mass index, and blood pressure were the main influencing factors. ufPWV was increased in the patients with CSF. The findings indicated that, in addition to reflecting atherosclerosis, ufPWV might also provide a basis for the noninvasive evaluation of microvascular impairment in the patients with CSF.
Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Coronary slow flow; Pulse wave velocity; Ultrafast ultrasound imaging.