One-step evaluation of intraplaque hemorrhage in the carotid artery and vertebrobasilar artery using simultaneous non-contrast angiography and intraplaque hemorrhage

2021 ◽  
pp. 109824
Author(s):  
Min Jee Kim ◽  
Hyo Sung Kwak ◽  
Seung Bae Hwang ◽  
Gyung Ho Chung
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 856
Author(s):  
Ui Yun Lee ◽  
Hyo Sung Kwak

The purpose of this study was to assess the vulnerability of plaque using a combination of simultaneous non-contrast angiography, intraplaque hemorrhage (SNAP) sequence, and local hemodynamic analysis in an intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH), and to evaluate the association between morphological and hemodynamic factors and IPH by comparing the IPH (presence of IPH) and non-IPH (plaque with absence of IPH) groups. In total, 27 IPH patients and 27 non-IPH patients were involved in this study, and baseline characteristics were collected. For morphological factors, diameters, and areas of the internal carotid artery (ICA), external carotid artery, and common carotid artery were measured, and bifurcation angle (α) and ICA angle (β) were also measured for comparison between the IPH group and non-IPH group. For hemodynamic factors, time-averaged wall shear stress (WSS), minimum WSS, maximum WSS, and oscillatory shear index were calculated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. For the qualitative analysis, cross-sectional images with analyzed WSS and SNAP sequences were combined to precisely assess local hemodynamics. Bifurcation angle (α) was significantly different between the IPH and non-IPH groups (39.47 degrees vs. 47.60 degrees, p = 0.041). Significantly higher time-averaged WSS, minimum WSS, and maximum WSS were observed in the IPH group compared to the non-IPH group. In the IPH group, when using the combined analysis with SNAP sequences and WSS, the WSS of the region with IPH was significantly higher than the region without IPH (2.32 vs. 1.21 Pa, p = 0.005). A smaller bifurcation angle (α) and higher time-averaged WSS, minimum WSS, and maximum WSS were associated with IPH. The combined analysis of SNAP sequences and WSS might help to evaluate the risk of carotid IPH.


TH Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 05 (02) ◽  
pp. e113-e124
Author(s):  
Elsa Wilma Böhm ◽  
Maria Pavlaki ◽  
Georgios Chalikias ◽  
Dimitrios Mikroulis ◽  
George S. Georgiadis ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Intimal calcification typically develops in advanced atherosclerosis, and microcalcification may promote plaque progression and instability. Conversely, intraplaque hemorrhage and erythrocyte extravasation may stimulate osteoblastic differentiation and intralesional calcium phosphate deposition. The presence of erythrocytes and their main cellular components (membranes, hemoglobin, and iron) and colocalization with calcification has never been systematically studied. Methods and Results We examined three types of diseased vascular tissue specimens, namely, degenerative aortic valve stenosis (n = 46), atherosclerotic carotid artery plaques (n = 9), and abdominal aortic aneurysms (n = 14). Biomaterial was obtained from symptomatic patients undergoing elective aortic valve replacement, carotid artery endatherectomy, or aortic aneurysm repair, respectively. Serial sections were stained using Masson–Goldner trichrome, Alizarin red S, and Perl's iron stain to visualize erythrocytes, extracelluar matrix and osteoid, calcium phosphate deposition, or the presence of iron and hemosiderin, respectively. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect erythrocyte membranes (CD235a), hemoglobin or the hemoglobin scavenger receptor (CD163), endothelial cells (CD31), myofibroblasts (SMA), mesenchymal cells (osteopontin), or osteoblasts (periostin). Our analyses revealed a varying degree of intraplaque hemorrhage and that the majority of extravasated erythrocytes were lysed. Osteoid and calcifications also were frequently present, and erythrocyte membranes were significantly more prevalent in areas with calcification. Areas with extravasated erythrocytes frequently contained CD163-positive cells, although calcification also occurred in areas without CD163 immunosignals. Conclusion Our findings underline the presence of extravasated erythrocytes and their membranes in different types of vascular lesions, and their association with areas of calcification suggests an active role of erythrocytes in vascular disease processes.


2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 149-154
Author(s):  
J. Deguchi ◽  
T. Kuroiwa ◽  
S. Nagasawa ◽  
G. Satoh ◽  
T. Ohta

There have been few reports of stenting in the intracranial arteries. We used coronary stents in the chronically occluded intracranial vertebral artery and stenosis of internal carotid artery by the external force, and good blood flow were resumed. Stenosis in the intracranial arteries is also a good indication for stent placement when it is due to chronic total occlusion or artery compression by external force. But stent placement in the intracranial arteries has some problems. Stent placement in the intracranial artery is indicated only when the site of stent placement has a diameter of 3 mm or more, is a relatively linear portion of the vertebrobasilar artery or the internal carotid artery proximal to the C3 segment, and does not branch off perforating arteries or is already completely occluded.


Stroke ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhong-Song Shi ◽  
Xiao-Bing Jiang ◽  
Jin-Shan Wang ◽  
Wei-Si Yuan ◽  
Dong-Hong Liu

Purpose: The limited number of large animal carotid atherosclerotic models restricts the preclinical evaluation of endovascular therapies. Carotid intraplaque hemorrhage may be associated with a higher risk of ischemic stroke in patients with carotid disease. In this study, we assess the association of the lesional expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 with vulnerable atherosclerotic carotid plaque and intraplaque hemorrhage in a Swine model. Materials and Methods: Carotid atherosclerosis was induced in miniswines using the combination of partial ligation and high cholesterol diet, and a minimum 70% stenosis was confirmed by Doppler ultrasonography immediately post-ligation. Carotid artery sections were obtained for histopathological examination and immunohistochemical study for MMP-9 at three months. Distal embolism was determined by the presence of atheroemboli in the ipsilateral rete mirabile. Atherosclerotic changes were classified by AHA/Stary stage (type I to VI). The association of distal embolism in the rete mirabile with vulnerable carotid plaque was analyzed. The association of MMP-9 expression in the plaque with the vulnerable plaque and intraplaque hemorrhage was further analyzed. Results: One hundred ninety-one carotid segments from ten carotid artery models were assessed. Among 139 segments with atherosclerotic changes, 102 segments had vulnerable plaque (Stary IV to VI). Vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques were found more frequently in the vessel wall proximal to the partial ligation than distal ( P <0.0001). Distal embolism was found in all 10 rete mirabilis, and deemed to be from the ipsilateral vulnerable carotid plaques. Areas positive for MMP-9 tended to be greater in the vulnerable plaque than in the stable plaque (8.69 ± 0.73% vs. 7.04 ± 0.94%, p=0.35). Areas positive for MMP-9 were significantly greater in the plaque with intraplaque hemorrhage than in the plaque without intraplaque hemorrhage (11.84 ± 1.22% vs. 6.63 ± 0.59%, p<0.001). On multivariate analysis, positive expression of MMP-9 was an independent predictor of intraplaque hemorrhage (p=0.007). Conclusion: Vulnerable carotid plaques with distal embolism were created in a Swine model of carotid atherosclerosis. Increased expression of MMP-9 may be associated with vulnerable carotid plaques, especially having the feature of intraplaque hemorrhage.


Stroke ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenji Fukuda ◽  
Koji Iihara ◽  
Naoaki Yamada ◽  
Hatsue Ueda

Background- The relationship between coronary artery remodeling and plaque vulnerability has been described on the basis of symptomatology and histology. However, the association with carotid artery remodeling has not been explored in detail. The aim of this study was to validate the relationship between carotid artery remodeling and plaque vulnerability by comparing the degree of outward remodeling calculated using 3D inversion-recovery-based T1-weighted imaging (magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient-echo [MPRAGE]) with the symptomatology and histology of plaques extracted during carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Methods and Results- Sixty-one patients with high-grade carotid stenosis who underwent CEA and whose plaque could be examined were included. The average rate of stenosis as per the NASCET criteria was 79.8%. The carotid remodeling index (CRI) was determined by measuring the external cross-sectional vessel area (CSVA) of the maximum stenosis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and dividing it by the external CSVA of the distal ICA unaffected by atherosclerosis using MPRAGE imaging. The relationship between the CRI and plaque vulnerability was evaluated on the basis of symptomatology and histology. The CRI was significantly higher in symptomatic patients than in asymptomatic patients (1.98 ± 0.26 vs. 1.68 ± 0.24, p < 0.0001). A higher CRI was positively correlated with the necrotic core area (r = 0.568, p < 0.0001) as well as significantly associated with severe intraplaque hemorrhage (p < 0.0001) and the prevalence of cap inflammation with macrophage (p = 0.03) and lymphocyte (p = 0.01) infiltration. Conclusion- These results validate the relationship between carotid artery remodeling and plaque vulnerability in high-grade carotid stenosis. MPRAGE imaging is effective to assess plaque vulnerability in terms of the CRI in addition to the signal intensity of carotid plaques.


2021 ◽  
pp. 159101992110310
Author(s):  
John C Benson ◽  
Valentina Nardi ◽  
Melanie C Bois ◽  
Luca Saba ◽  
Waleed Brinjikji ◽  
...  

Background Using computed tomography angiography to differentiate between components of carotid atherosclerotic lesions remains largely elusive. This study sought to validate a semi-automated software for computed tomography angiography plaque analysis using histologic comparisons. Materials and Methods A retrospective review was performed of consecutive patients that underwent a carotid endarterectomy, with pre-procedural computed tomography angiography imaging of the cervical arterial vasculature available for review. Images were evaluated using a commercially-available software package, which produced segmented analyses of intraplaque components (e.g. intraplaque hemorrhage, lipid-rich necrotic core, and calcifications). On imaging, each component was assessed in terms of its (1) presence or absence, and (2) both volume and proportion of the total plaque volume (if present). On histological evaluation of carotid endarterectomy specimens, each component was evaluated as an estimated proportion of total plaque volume. Results Of 80 included patients, 30 (37.5%) were female. The average age was 69.7 years (SD = 9.1). Based on imaging, intraplaque hemorrhage was the smallest contributor to plaque composition (1.2% of volumes on average). Statistically significant linear associations were noted between the proportion of intraplaque hemorrhage, lipid-rich necrotic core, and calcifications on histology and the volume of each component on imaging ( p values ranged from 0.0008 to 0.01). Area under curve were poor for intraplaque hemorrhage and lipid-rich necrotic core (0.59 and 0.61, respectively) and acceptable for calcifications (0.73). Conclusion Semi-automated analyses of computed tomography angiography have limited diagnostic accuracy in the detection of intraplaque hemorrhage and lipid-rich necrotic core in carotid artery plaques. However, volumetric imaging measurements of different components corresponded with histologic analysis.


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