The Impact of Biochemical Markers On Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events and Contralateral Carotid Artery Stenosis Progression Following Carotid Interventions

Serum c-reactive protein (CRP) was suggested for the assessment of intermediate cardiovascular (CV) risk. Here, systemic or intraplaque CRP levels were investigated as predictors of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with severe carotid stenosis. CRP levels were assessed in the serum and within different portions (upstream and downstream) of carotid plaques of 217 patients undergoing endarterectomy. The association between CRP and intraplaque lipids, collagen, neutrophils, smooth muscle cells (SMC), and macrophage subsets was determined. No correlation between serum CRP and intraplaque biomarkers was observed. In upstream portions, CRP content was directly correlated with intraplaque neutrophils, total macrophages, and M1 macrophages and inversely correlated with SMC content. In downstream portions, intraplaque CRP correlated with M1 and M2 macrophages. According to the cut-off point (CRP > 2.9%) identified by ROC analysis in upstream portions, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with high CRP levels had a greater rate of MACEs. This risk of MACEs increased independently of age, male gender, serum CRP, and statin use. In conclusion, in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis, high CRP levels within upstream portions of carotid plaques directly and positively correlate with intraplaque inflammatory cells and predict MACEs at an 18-month follow-up period.

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Serum levels of osteopontin predict major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis

International Journal of Cardiology ◽

10.1016/j.ijcard.2018.01.008 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 255 ◽

pp. 195-199 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Federico Carbone ◽

Fabio Rigamonti ◽

Fabienne Burger ◽

Aline Roth ◽

Maria Bertolotto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carotid Artery ◽

Carotid Artery Stenosis ◽

Cardiovascular Events ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Artery Stenosis ◽

Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events

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Longitudinal effects of common carotid artery stenosis on ocular hemodynamics assessed using laser speckle flowgraphy in a rabbit model

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-72556-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Aishah Ismail ◽

Hui Cheng Chen ◽

Ibrahima Faye ◽

Tong Boon Tang

Keyword(s):

Carotid Artery ◽

Common Carotid Artery ◽

Carotid Artery Stenosis ◽

Rabbit Model ◽

Laser Speckle ◽

Artery Stenosis ◽

Laser Speckle Flowgraphy ◽

Stroke Severity ◽

Post Surgery ◽

The Impact

Abstract Real-time impairment of ocular blood flow (OBF) under common carotid artery stenosis (CCAS) has not been ascertained. We aimed to longitudinally assess the impact of CCAS on OBF using a rabbit model. About 75% stenosis was created by tying the common carotid artery with a plastic mandrel using a nylon suture. The plastic mandrel was gently removed, leaving a ligature. Neurological and behavioral assessments were recorded as the clinical indicator of stroke severity. With laser speckle flowgraphy, the pulse waveform parameters namely mean blur rate (MBR), blowout score (BOS), blowout time (BOT), rising rate, S1-area, falling rate (FR), S2-area, flow acceleration index (FAI), acceleration time index, resistive index (RI) and the difference between the maximum and minimum values of MBR (AC) were assessed in overall, vessel, and tissue regions of the optic nerve head (ONH). Longitudinally, BOS significantly increased until day 19 post-surgery, whereas FAI, RI, and AC significantly decreased. Beyond day 19, BOS, BOT, FR, FAI, RI, and AC significantly decreased. We defined two stages representing impaired vessel conditions, namely the vessel resistance phase, where BOS increases and FAI, RI, and AC decrease, and the vessel elasticity phase where BOS, BOT, FR, FAI, RI and AC decrease. These stages provide information about atherosclerosis, assessable non-invasively through the eye.

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Soluble ST2 levels are not associated with secondary cardiovascular events and vulnerable plaque phenotype in patients with carotid artery stenosis

Atherosclerosis ◽

10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2013.08.024 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 231 (1) ◽

pp. 48-53 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Sanne Willems ◽

Paul H.A. Quax ◽

Gert Jan de Borst ◽

Jean-Paul P.M. de Vries ◽

Frans L. Moll ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carotid Artery ◽

Carotid Artery Stenosis ◽

Vulnerable Plaque ◽

Cardiovascular Events ◽

Artery Stenosis ◽

Soluble St2 ◽

Plaque Phenotype

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The impact of contralateral carotid artery stenosis on outcomes after carotid endarterectomy

Journal of Vascular Surgery ◽

10.1016/j.jvs.2017.04.032 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 66 (6) ◽

pp. 1727-1734.e2 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Alexander B. Pothof ◽

Peter A. Soden ◽

Margriet Fokkema ◽

Sara L. Zettervall ◽

Sarah E. Deery ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carotid Artery ◽

Carotid Endarterectomy ◽

Carotid Artery Stenosis ◽

Artery Stenosis ◽

The Impact

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Comparing the impact of an icon array versus a bar graph on preference and understanding of risk information: Results from an online, randomized study

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0253644 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (7) ◽

pp. e0253644

Author(s):

Peter Scalia ◽

Danielle C. Schubbe ◽

Emily S. Lu ◽

Marie-Anne Durand ◽

Jorge Frascara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carotid Artery ◽

Carotid Artery Stenosis ◽

Randomized Study ◽

Risk Information ◽

Artery Stenosis ◽

Graphical Display ◽

Display Format ◽

Literacy Proficiency ◽

The Impact ◽

Major Stroke

Background Few studies have examined the best way to convey the probability of serious events occurring in the future (i.e., risk of stroke or death) to persons with low numeracy or graph literacy proficiency. To address this gap, we developed and user-tested a bar graph and compared it to icon arrays to assess its impact on understanding and preference for viewing risk information. Objectives To determine the: (i) formats’ impact on participants’ understanding of risk information; (ii) formats’ impact on understanding and format preference across numeracy and graph literacy subgroups; (iii) rationale supporting participants’ preference for each graphical display format. Methods An online sample (evenly made up of participants with high and low objective numeracy and graph literacy) was randomized to view either the icon array or the bar graph. Each format conveyed the risk of major stroke and death five years after choosing surgery, a stent, or medication to treat carotid artery stenosis. Participants answered questions to assess their understanding of the risk information. Lastly, both formats were presented in parallel, and participants were asked to identify their preferred format to view risk information and explain their preference. Results Of the 407 participants, 197 were assigned the icon array and 210 the bar graph. Understanding of risk information and format preference did not differ significantly between the two trial arms, irrespective of numeracy and graph literacy proficiency. High numeracy and graph literacy proficiency was associated with high understanding (p<0.01) and a preference for the bar graph (p = 0.01). Conclusion We found no evidence to demonstrate the superiority of one format over another on understanding. The majority of participants preferred viewing the risk information using the bar graph format.

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