Intraplaque Hemorrhage, Fibrous Cap Status, and Microembolic Signals in Symptomatic Patients With Mild to Moderate Carotid Artery Stenosis: The Plaque At RISK Study

M. T. Truijman, A.A. de Rotte, R. Aaslid, A.C. van Dijk, J. Steinbuch, M.I. Liem, F.H. Schreuder, A.F. van der Steen, M.J. Daemen, R.J. van Oostenbrugge, J.E. Wildberger, P.J. Nederkoorn, J. Hendrikse, A. van der Lugt, M.E. Kooi, W.H. Mess*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In patients with mild to moderate symptomatic artery stenosis, intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) and a thin/ruptured (FC) as evaluated with MRI, and the presence of microembolic signals detected with transcranial Doppler, are associated with an increased (recurrent) stroke. The objective of the present study is to determine the prevalence of MES differs in patients with and without IPH and FC, and patients with only a thin/ruptured FC without IPH. METHODS: In multicenter, diagnostic cohort study, patients with recent transient attack or minor stroke in the carotid territory and an ipsilateral mild moderate carotid artery plaque were included. IPH and FC status were dichotomously scored. Analysis of transcranial Doppler data was done the MRI results. Differences between groups were analyzed with Fisher RESULTS: A total of 113 patients were included. Transcranial Doppler were feasible in 105 patients (average recording time, 219 minutes). A 26 MESs were detected in 8 of 105 patients. In 44 of 105 plaques IPH was In 92 of 105 plaques FC status was assessable, 36 of these had a FC. No significant difference in the prevalence of MES between patients without IPH (P=0.46) or with thick versus thin/ruptured FC (P=0.48) was CONCLUSIONS: In patients with a symptomatic mild to moderate carotid stenosis, IPH and FC status are not associated with MES. This suggests and transcranial Doppler provide different information on plaque CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01709045.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3423-3426
Number of pages4
JournalStroke
Volume45
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2014

Keywords

  • magnetic resonance imaging
  • plaque
  • atherosclerotic
  • transcranial Doppler sonography
  • DOPPLER ULTRASOUND
  • STROKE RISK
  • EVENTS

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