Ying Cai1, Le He2, Chun Yuan3, Huijun Chen2, Qiang Zhang2, Rui Li2, Cheng Li4, Xihai Zhao5. 1. Center for Biomedical Imaging Research, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Beijing, China; Department of Radiology, Yangzhou First People's Hospital, Yangzhou, China. 2. Center for Biomedical Imaging Research, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Beijing, China. 3. Center for Biomedical Imaging Research, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Beijing, China; Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. 4. Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China. Electronic address: cjr.licheng@vip.163.com. 5. Center for Biomedical Imaging Research, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Beijing, China; Center of Stroke, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China. Electronic address: xihaizhao@tsinghua.edu.cn.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study sought to investigate the characteristics of morphology, compositions and distribution of carotid atherosclerotic plaques in asymptomatic elderly population using three dimensional (3D) multicontrast magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 146 asymptomatic elderly subjects (≥60years) were recruited and underwent 3D multicontrast MR vessel wall imaging for bilateral carotid arteries on a 3.0T MR scanner. The presence of carotid atherosclerotic plaque was determined and the stenosis was measured. The characteristics of plaque morphology and compositions were evaluated and compared among distal internal carotid artery (D-ICA), proximal-ICA (P-ICA), carotid bulb (CB), distal common carotid artery (D-CCA) and proximal-CCA (P-CCA). RESULTS: Of all recruited 140 subjects (72.1±5.7years, 63 males), 87 (62.1%) had carotid plaques, 17 (12.1%) had high-risk plaques and 51 (36.4%) had multiple plaques. Of all 280 carotid arteries, only 16 (5.7%) had luminal stenosis (21.1%±11.4%). Among carotid arteries without luminal stenosis, the prevalence of plaque and high-risk plaques was 43.2% and 8.3%, respectively. Carotid plaques were mostly found in CB segment (33.9%), followed by P-ICA (13.6%), P-CCA (11.1%), D-CCA (4.6%) and D-ICA (3.6%). Age was independently associated with presence of multiple carotid plaques (odds ratio, 1.835; 95% confidence interval, 1.196-2.815; P=0.005). CONCLUSION: Carotid artery atherosclerotic plaques are prevalent and a substantial number of high-risk plaques can be found in the asymptomatic elderly subjects. Longitudinal studies are warranted to investigate the risk of having ischemic stroke for asymptomatic elderly individuals with carotid artery high risk plaques.
PURPOSE: This study sought to investigate the characteristics of morphology, compositions and distribution of carotid atherosclerotic plaques in asymptomatic elderly population using three dimensional (3D) multicontrast magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 146 asymptomatic elderly subjects (≥60years) were recruited and underwent 3D multicontrast MR vessel wall imaging for bilateral carotid arteries on a 3.0T MR scanner. The presence of carotid atherosclerotic plaque was determined and the stenosis was measured. The characteristics of plaque morphology and compositions were evaluated and compared among distal internal carotid artery (D-ICA), proximal-ICA (P-ICA), carotid bulb (CB), distal common carotid artery (D-CCA) and proximal-CCA (P-CCA). RESULTS: Of all recruited 140 subjects (72.1±5.7years, 63 males), 87 (62.1%) had carotid plaques, 17 (12.1%) had high-risk plaques and 51 (36.4%) had multiple plaques. Of all 280 carotid arteries, only 16 (5.7%) had luminal stenosis (21.1%±11.4%). Among carotid arteries without luminal stenosis, the prevalence of plaque and high-risk plaques was 43.2% and 8.3%, respectively. Carotid plaques were mostly found in CB segment (33.9%), followed by P-ICA (13.6%), P-CCA (11.1%), D-CCA (4.6%) and D-ICA (3.6%). Age was independently associated with presence of multiple carotid plaques (odds ratio, 1.835; 95% confidence interval, 1.196-2.815; P=0.005). CONCLUSION: Carotid artery atherosclerotic plaques are prevalent and a substantial number of high-risk plaques can be found in the asymptomatic elderly subjects. Longitudinal studies are warranted to investigate the risk of having ischemic stroke for asymptomatic elderly individuals with carotid artery high risk plaques.
Authors: Li Chen; Jie Sun; Daniel S Hippe; Niranjan Balu; Quan Yuan; Isabelle Yuan; Xihai Zhao; Rui Li; Le He; Thomas S Hatsukami; Jenq-Neng Hwang; Chun Yuan Journal: Neurobiol Aging Date: 2019-03-28 Impact factor: 4.673