Demographics of carotid atherosclerotic plaque features imaged by computed tomography.
J Neuroradiol
; 40(1): 1-10, 2013 Mar.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23428245
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
This was a prospective, cross-sectional study to evaluate the risk factors and symptoms associated with specific carotid wall and atherosclerotic plaque features as seen on computed tomography-angiography (CTA) studies. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
A total of 120 consecutive consenting patients admitted to the emergency department with suspected cerebrovascular ischemia, and receiving standard-of-care CTA of the brain and neck on a 64-slice CT scanner, were prospectively enrolled in the study. The carotid wall features observed on CT were quantitatively analyzed with customized software using different radiodensities for contrast-phase acquisition of the carotids. Clinical datasets, including a complete medical history and examination, were obtained by research physicians or specially trained associates blinded to any findings on CT. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the degree of association between clinical indicators and quantitative CT features of carotid atherosclerotic plaques.RESULTS:
Men tended to have increased carotid lumen (coefficient 608.7; 95% CI 356.9-860.6; P<0.001) and wall volumes (209.2; 54.5-364.0; P=0.008), and hypertension was associated with increased wall volume (260.6; 88.7-432.6; P=0.003). Advanced age was associated with increases in maximum wall thickness (0.02; 0.003-0.05; P=0.029), fibrous cap thickness (0.005; 0.001-0.008; P=0.016) and number of calcium voxels (2.7; 1.25-4.2; P<0.001), and the presence of a carotid bruit was associated with carotid stenosis length (21.0; 5.38-37.8; P=0.009). Exercise was inversely related to the number of calcium (-37.1; -71.5 - -2.7; P=0.035) and lipid (-7.9; -15.1 - -0.7; P=0.032) voxels. ACE inhibitor use was associated with fibrous cap thickness (0.1; 0.04-0.23; P=0.005).CONCLUSION:
Significant associations were found between clinical descriptors and carotid atherosclerotic plaque features as revealed by CT. Future studies are needed to validate our findings, and to continue investigations into whether CT features of carotid plaques can be used as biomarkers to quantify the impact of strategies aiming to correct vascular risk factors.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Angiografia
/
Doenças das Artérias Carótidas
/
Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X
/
Isquemia Encefálica
/
Hipertensão
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2013
Tipo de documento:
Article