scholarly journals Chronic kidney disease, atherosclerotic plaque characteristics on carotid magnetic resonance imaging, and cardiovascular outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Srinivasan Beddhu ◽  
Robert E. Boucher ◽  
Jie Sun ◽  
Niranjan Balu ◽  
Michel Chonchol ◽  
...  

Abstract Background It is unclear whether faster progression of atherosclerosis explains the higher risk of cardiovascular events in CKD. The objectives of this study were to 1. Characterize the associations of CKD with presence and morphology of atherosclerotic plaques on carotid magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 2. Examine the associations of baseline CKD and carotid atherosclerotic plaques with subsequent cardiovascular events. Methods In a subgroup (N = 465) of Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial. (SPRINT) participants, we measured carotid plaque presence and morphology at baseline and after 30-months with MRI. We examined the associations of CKD (baseline eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73m2) with progression of carotid plaques and the SPRINT cardiovascular endpoint. Results One hundred and ninety six (42%) participants had CKD. Baseline eGFR in the non-CKD and CKD subgroups were 77 ± 14 and 49 ± 8 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively. Lipid rich necrotic-core plaque was present in 137 (29.5%) participants. In 323 participants with both baseline and follow-up MRI measurements of maximum wall thickness, CKD was not associated with progression of maximum wall thickness (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.36 to 1.07, p = 0.082). In 96 participants with necrotic core plaque at baseline and with a valid follow-up MRI, CKD was associated with lower odds of progression of necrotic core plaque (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.95, p = 0.039). There were 28 cardiovascular events over 1764 person-years of follow-up. In separate Cox models, necrotic core plaque (HR 2.59, 95% CI 1.15 to 5.85) but not plaque defined by maximum wall thickness or presence of a plaque component (HR 1.79, 95% CI 0.73 to 4.43) was associated with cardiovascular events. Independent of necrotic core plaque, CKD (HR 3.35, 95% CI 1.40 to 7.99) was associated with cardiovascular events. Conclusions Presence of necrotic core in carotid plaque rather than the presence of plaque per se was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. We did not find CKD to be associated with faster progression of necrotic core plaques, although both were independently associated with cardiovascular events. Thus, CKD may contribute to cardiovascular disease principally via mechanisms other than atherosclerosis such as arterial media calcification or stiffening. Trial Registration NCT01475747, registered on November 21, 2011.

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 973-979 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kohei Suzuyama ◽  
Yusuke Yakushiji ◽  
Atsushi Ogata ◽  
Masashi Nishihara ◽  
Makoto Eriguchi ◽  
...  

Background and aims We explored the association between the total small vessel disease score obtained from baseline magnetic resonance imaging and subsequent cerebro-cardiovascular events in neurologically healthy Japanese adults. Methods The presence of small vessel disease features, including lacunae, cerebral microbleeds, white matter changes, and basal ganglia perivascular spaces on magnetic resonance imaging, was summed to obtain a “total small vessel disease score” (range, 0–4). After excluding participants with previous stroke or ischemic heart disease, intracranial artery stenosis (≥50%), or cerebral aneurysm (≥4 mm), a total of 1349 participants (mean age, 57.7 years; range, 22.8–85.0 years; 46.9% male) were classified into three groups by total small vessel disease score: 0 ( n = 984), 1 ( n = 269), and ≥2 ( n = 96). Cerebro-cardiovascular events (i.e., any stroke, transient ischemic attack, ischemic heart disease, acute heart failure, and aortic dissection) were defined as the primary end point. The hazard ratio (HR) of events during follow-up was calculated using Cox proportional hazards modeling with adjustments for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and smoking. Cumulative event-free rates were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Results During follow-up (mean, 6.7 years), 35 cerebro-cardiovascular (16 cerebrovascular) events were identified. Higher small vessel disease score was associated with increased risk of cerebro-cardiovascular events (HR per unit increase, 2.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.36–3.46; P = 0.001). Events were more frequent among participants with higher score ( P < 0.001, log-rank test). Conclusions This study offered additional evidence for the clinical relevance of total small vessel disease score, suggesting the score as a promising tool to predict the risk of subsequent vascular events even in healthy populations.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Sun ◽  
Xue-Qiao Zhao ◽  
Niranjan Balu ◽  
Moni B Neradilek ◽  
Daniel A Isquith ◽  
...  

Background: Although vulnerable plaques are considered the pathological substrate for acute cardiovascular events, the pursuit of imaging surrogate markers for systemic atherothrombotic risk is currently focused on plaque burden. The prognostic value of vulnerable plaque characteristics as novel markers for systemic cardiovascular outcomes remains elusive. Advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have enabled characterization of the vulnerable carotid plaque. In a prospective study, we tested whether MRI-detected carotid plaque characteristics predict subsequent cardiovascular events. Methods: As part of an event-driven clinical trial, subjects with clinically established atherosclerotic disease were recruited. A multi-sequence protocol was used to measure the volumes of calcification and necrotic core (NC), and to identify the presence of intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) and thin/ruptured fibrous cap (FC) using published criteria. The primary endpoint included fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke, hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome, and symptom-driven revascularization. Cox regression analysis was used to present results as hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Of 232 subjects recruited, 214 (92.2%) with diagnostic image quality constituted the study population (mean age: 61±9 years; male: 82%; statin use: 94%). Calcification, NC, IPH, and thin/ruptured FC were detected in 48%, 52%, 8% and 14% of subjects, respectively. During a median follow-up of 35.1 months, 18 (8.4%) subjects reached the primary endpoint. MRI-detected plaque characteristics associated with the primary endpoint included larger NC (HR per 1 standard deviation increase in volume [1-SD]: 1.43 [1.16, 1.75], p<0.001), thin/ruptured FC (HR: 4.31 [1.67, 11.12], p=0.003), and marginally IPH (HR: 3.00 [0.99, 9.13], p=0.053). Although calcium deposition is traditionally pursued as a marker for atherosclerosis, subjects with larger calcification (HR per 1-SD: 0.60 [0.26, 1.41], p=0.20) did not show increased risk. Conclusions: Vulnerable plaque characteristics are prevalent in carotid arteries of patients with established atherosclerosis and are predictive of systemic cardiovascular outcomes.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 1081-1089 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Sinclair ◽  
Steven D. Chang ◽  
Iris C. Gibbs ◽  
John R. Adler

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Intramedullary spinal cord arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) have an unfavorable natural history that characteristically involves myelopathy secondary to progressive ischemia and/or recurrent hemorrhage. Although some lesions can be managed successfully with embolization and surgery, AVM size, location, and angioarchitecture precludes treatment in many circumstances. Given the poor outlook for such patients, and building on the successful experience with radiosurgical ablation of cerebral AVMs, our group at Stanford University has used CyberKnife (Accuray, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to treat selected spinal cord AVMs since 1997. In this article, we retrospectively analyze our preliminary experience with this technique. METHODS: Fifteen patients with intramedullary spinal cord AVMs (nine cervical, three thoracic, and three conus medullaris) were treated by image-guided SRS between 1997 and 2005. SRS was delivered in two to five sessions with an average marginal dose of 20.5 Gy. The biologically effective dose used in individual patients was escalated gradually over the course of this study. Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging follow-up were carried out annually, and spinal angiography was repeated at 3 years. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up period of 27.9 months (range, 3–59 mo), six of the seven patients who were more than 3 years from SRS had significant reductions in AVM volumes on interim magnetic resonance imaging examinations. In four of the five patients who underwent postoperative spinal angiography, persistent AVM was confirmed, albeit reduced in size. One patient demonstrated complete angiographic obliteration of a conus medullaris AVM 26 months after radiosurgery. There was no evidence of further hemorrhage after CyberKnife treatment or neurological deterioration attributable to SRS. CONCLUSION: This description of CyberKnife radiosurgical ablation demonstrates its feasibility and apparent safety for selected intramedullary spinal cord AVMs. Additional experience is necessary to ascertain the optimal radiosurgical dose and ultimate efficacy of this technique.


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