Marta Skowronska1, Anna Piorkowska2, Anna Czlonkowska3. 1. Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego 9, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: marta.ms@simplusnet.pl. 2. Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego 9, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: apiork@wp.pl. 3. Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego 9, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland; Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: czlonkow@ipin.edu.pl.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: There is little data about sex differences in carotid atherosclerosis in the early phase after an ischemic event. The aim of this study was to examine the carotid artery atherosclerosis differences between men and women in early phase after TIA or stroke. METHODS: Consecutive patients with recent ischemic event, admitted during the first week after symptom onset were examined with ultrasound. Sex differences in degree of stenosis, number of plaques and plaque morphology were compared. Plaque morphology was assessed by gray-scale median (GSM), according to which lower values were associated with hemorrhagic/necrotic core indicating plaque instability. RESULTS: Of the 316 patients with ischemic events, 196 (50.5% male) entered the study. Men had more often moderate as well as severe ipsilateral carotid stenosis (12.1% vs 7.2% for moderate and 12.1% vs 2.1% for severe; p=0.024). Men had more often the largest plaque hypoechogenic contralateral (62.6% vs 37.1%, p=0.0008), but not ipsilateral. Men had 3 or more hypoechogenic plaques (24.2% vs 4.1%, p=0.0001; 17.2% vs 4.1%, p<0.0001) both ipsi and contralateral respectively. Male sex was a risk factor for having 3 or more ipsilateral hypoechogenic plaques (p=0.002, OR=20 CI 95% [5.5-75]. CONCLUSIONS: Men had more often carotid stenosis and higher number of hypoechogenic plaques.
OBJECTIVES: There is little data about sex differences in carotid atherosclerosis in the early phase after an ischemic event. The aim of this study was to examine the carotid artery atherosclerosis differences between men and women in early phase after TIA or stroke. METHODS: Consecutive patients with recent ischemic event, admitted during the first week after symptom onset were examined with ultrasound. Sex differences in degree of stenosis, number of plaques and plaque morphology were compared. Plaque morphology was assessed by gray-scale median (GSM), according to which lower values were associated with hemorrhagic/necrotic core indicating plaque instability. RESULTS: Of the 316 patients with ischemic events, 196 (50.5% male) entered the study. Men had more often moderate as well as severe ipsilateral carotid stenosis (12.1% vs 7.2% for moderate and 12.1% vs 2.1% for severe; p=0.024). Men had more often the largest plaque hypoechogenic contralateral (62.6% vs 37.1%, p=0.0008), but not ipsilateral. Men had 3 or more hypoechogenic plaques (24.2% vs 4.1%, p=0.0001; 17.2% vs 4.1%, p<0.0001) both ipsi and contralateral respectively. Male sex was a risk factor for having 3 or more ipsilateral hypoechogenic plaques (p=0.002, OR=20 CI 95% [5.5-75]. CONCLUSIONS:Men had more often carotid stenosis and higher number of hypoechogenic plaques.
Authors: David Della-Morte; Chuanhui Dong; Milita Crisby; Hannah Gardener; Digna Cabral; Mitchell S V Elkind; Jose Gutierrez; Ralph L Sacco; Tatjana Rundek Journal: Front Cardiovasc Med Date: 2022-01-24