OBJECTIVE: Severe carotid stenosis is a frequent cause of stroke in both men and women. Whereas several sex-related comparisons are available on coronary atherosclerosis, there are few data appraising gender-specific features of carotid plaques. We aimed to systematically compare the pathology and inflammatory features of carotid plaques in men vs women. METHODS: Carotid plaque specimens were collected from patients undergoing surgical endarterectomy for asymptomatic or symptomatic carotid stenosis. Histologic analysis was performed, as well as measurements of plaque composition and inflammation. RESULTS: A total of 457 patients were included (132 women, 325 men). Baseline analyses showed a greater prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and former smoking status in women, despite a higher Framingham Heart Score in men (all P < .05). Women had a lower prevalence of thrombotic plaques, smaller percentage area of necrotic core, and hemorrhage extension (all P < .05). Plaque inflammation analysis showed a lower concentration of inflammatory and, in particular, of macrophage foam cells in the plaque cap of women (both P < .05). These differences were, however, no longer significant at multivariable analysis, including several baseline features, such as symptom status and stenosis severity. CONCLUSIONS: Carotid plaques seem significantly different in women and men, but the main drivers of such pathologic differences are baseline features, including stenosis severity and symptom status.
OBJECTIVE: Severe carotid stenosis is a frequent cause of stroke in both men and women. Whereas several sex-related comparisons are available on coronary atherosclerosis, there are few data appraising gender-specific features of carotid plaques. We aimed to systematically compare the pathology and inflammatory features of carotid plaques in men vs women. METHODS: Carotid plaque specimens were collected from patients undergoing surgical endarterectomy for asymptomatic or symptomatic carotid stenosis. Histologic analysis was performed, as well as measurements of plaque composition and inflammation. RESULTS: A total of 457 patients were included (132 women, 325 men). Baseline analyses showed a greater prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and former smoking status in women, despite a higher Framingham Heart Score in men (all P < .05). Women had a lower prevalence of thrombotic plaques, smaller percentage area of necrotic core, and hemorrhage extension (all P < .05). Plaque inflammation analysis showed a lower concentration of inflammatory and, in particular, of macrophage foam cells in the plaque cap of women (both P < .05). These differences were, however, no longer significant at multivariable analysis, including several baseline features, such as symptom status and stenosis severity. CONCLUSIONS: Carotid plaques seem significantly different in women and men, but the main drivers of such pathologic differences are baseline features, including stenosis severity and symptom status.
Authors: David B Hanna; Jee-Young Moon; Sabina A Haberlen; Audrey L French; Frank J Palella; Stephen J Gange; Mallory D Witt; Seble Kassaye; Jason M Lazar; Phyllis C Tien; Matthew J Feinstein; Lawrence A Kingsley; Wendy S Post; Robert C Kaplan; Howard N Hodis; Kathryn Anastos Journal: AIDS Date: 2018-10-23 Impact factor: 4.177
Authors: Peter Willeit; Simon G Thompson; Stefan Agewall; Göran Bergström; Horst Bickel; Alberico L Catapano; Kuo-Liong Chien; Eric de Groot; Jean-Philippe Empana; Thorleif Etgen; Oscar H Franco; Bernhard Iglseder; Stein H Johnsen; Maryam Kavousi; Lars Lind; Jing Liu; Ellisiv B Mathiesen; Giuseppe D Norata; Michael H Olsen; Aikaterini Papagianni; Holger Poppert; Jackie F Price; Ralph L Sacco; David N Yanez; Dong Zhao; Ulf Schminke; Alpaslan Bülbül; Joseph F Polak; Matthias Sitzer; Albert Hofman; Liliana Grigore; Marcus Dörr; Ta-Chen Su; Pierre Ducimetière; Wuxiang Xie; Kimmo Ronkainen; Stefan Kiechl; Tatjana Rundek; Christine Robertson; Björn Fagerberg; Lena Bokemark; Helmuth Steinmetz; M Arfan Ikram; Henry Völzke; Hung-Ju Lin; Matthieu Plichart; Tomi-Pekka Tuomainen; Moise Desvarieux; Stela McLachlan; Caroline Schmidt; Jussi Kauhanen; Johann Willeit; Matthias W Lorenz; Dirk Sander Journal: Eur J Prev Cardiol Date: 2014-11-21 Impact factor: 7.804