Objective To investigate the strain change of common carotid artery and its correlation with vascular elasticity in pregnant women with preeclampsia. Methods Thirty pregnant women with preeclampsia who came to our outpatient department for obstetric examination from February 2011 to January 2012 were selected as the case group

thirty-five normal pregnant women matched for age and gestational age were selected as the control group. Used the Esaote MyLab Twice Color Doppler Ultrasonography Instrument ;the thickness of the left common carotid artery intima-media thickness was measured by the QualityIntima-Media Thickness; the indexes of vascular elasticity were obtained by Quantitative Artery Stiffness

including the distention coefficient

stiffness parameter β

pulse wave velocity and augmented pressure; the X-strain technique was used to obtain the vascular strain index

including the intimal circumferential strain and strain rate

circumferential strain and strain rate of vascular adventitia

radial strain and strain rate. To compare the difference of common carotid artery strain between normal and preeclampsia pregnant women

the correlation between vascular strain and vascular intima-media thickness and vascular elasticity indexes was analyzed. The strain and elastic ultrasonic indexes with significant statistical differences between the groups were selected to draw ROC curves.Results The circumferential strain

circumferential strain rate and radial strain rate in pregnant women with preeclampsia were significantly lower than those in normal control group（P<0.01）

there was no significant difference in residual strain index between the two groups. The circumferential strain

strain rate

radial strain and strain rate of the inner and outer membrane of women with preeclampsia were negatively correlated with pulse wave velocity

stiffness parameter β and intima-media thickness

and positively correlated with distention coefficient and augmented pressure. The carotid strain indexes EN-CS

EN-CSR

RAD-SR and PWV have significant value in the diagnosis of preeclampsia

the areas under the ROC curve are respectively 0.74 (P<0.01)、0.75 (P<0.01)、0.84 (P<0.01)、0.68 (P=0.02).Coclusion The circumferential strain and longitudinal strain rate of the common carotid artery in women with preeclampsia were decreased and significantly correlated with vascular elasticity. Strain and strain rate are especially suitable for the diagnosis of preeclampsia pregnant women

which are better than the traditional elastic indexes.