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Kosmopoulos M, Rojas-Salvador C, Koukousaki D, Sebastian PS, Gutierrez-Bernal A, Elliott A, Kalra R, Gurevich S, Alexy T, Bartos JA, Yannopoulos D. The link between carotid artery stenosis and outcomes in patients with refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Resuscitation 2024:110289. [PMID: 38908776 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2024.110289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mortality of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains high. Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) has revolutionized OHCA treatment, but our understanding of the ECPR responder's clinical profile is incomplete. Carotid artery stenosis (CAS) is a well-established cardiovascular disease risk factor. The impact of CAS on OHCA outcomes remains unelucidated. OBJECTIVE To assess whether CAS burden affects the outcomes of OHCA patients treated with ECPR METHODS: This study included patients with OHCA admitted for ECPR consideration, who had carotid ultrasonography performed. A numeric scale was applied to the plaque to create a CAS burden numeric scale. The primary outcome of the study was survival at discharge, compared among the different degrees of CAS. Neurologically intact survival and surrogate markers of neurologic injury were the secondary study endpoints. To assess the independent effect of CAS burden on survival to hospital discharge, we conducted a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Between 2019 and 2023, carotid ultrasonography was performed on 163 patients who were admitted for refractory OHCA. CAS burden was equally distributed between the right and left carotid arteries. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the CAS burden was significantly associated with both overall and neurologically intact survival at discharge (p = 0.004). A linear relationship between the CAS burden and neuron-specific and S-100 levels was identified. Patients with normal carotids were significantly less likely to have encephalopathy on electroencephalograms. CONCLUSION CAS burden independently predicts the risk for worse survival and neurologic outcomes in patients suffering refractory OHCA who are treated with ECPR.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kosmopoulos
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Medicine; University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Center for Resuscitation Medicine
| | | | - D Koukousaki
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Center for Resuscitation Medicine
| | - P S Sebastian
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Medicine
| | - A Gutierrez-Bernal
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Medicine; University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Center for Resuscitation Medicine
| | - A Elliott
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Medicine; University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Center for Resuscitation Medicine
| | - R Kalra
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Medicine; University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Center for Resuscitation Medicine
| | - S Gurevich
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Medicine; University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Center for Resuscitation Medicine
| | - T Alexy
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Medicine; University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Center for Resuscitation Medicine
| | - J A Bartos
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Medicine; University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Center for Resuscitation Medicine
| | - D Yannopoulos
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Medicine; University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Center for Resuscitation Medicine.
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Vacca S, Scicolone R, Gupta A, Allan Wasserman B, Song J, Nardi V, Yang Q, Benson J, Lanzino G, Paraskevas K, Suri JS, Saba L. Atherosclerotic carotid artery disease Radiomics: A systematic review with meta-analysis and radiomic quality score assessment. Eur J Radiol 2024; 177:111547. [PMID: 38852329 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2024.111547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stroke, a leading global cause of mortality and neurological disability, is often associated with atherosclerotic carotid artery disease. Distinguishing between symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery disease is crucial for appropriate treatment decisions. Radiomics, a quantitative image analysis technique, and ML have emerged as promising tools in medical imaging, including neuroradiology. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the methodological quality of studies employing radiomics for atherosclerotic carotid artery disease analysis and ML algorithms for culprit plaque identification using CT or MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS Pubmed, WoS and Scopus databases were searched for relevant studies published from January 2005 to May 2023. RQS assessed methodological quality of studies included in the review. QUADAS-2 assessed the risk of bias. A meta-analysis and three meta regressions were conducted on study performance based on model type, imaging modality and segmentation method. RESULTS RQS assessed methodological quality, revealing an overall low score and consistent findings with other radiology domains. QUADAS-2 indicated an overall low risk, except for a single study with high bias. The meta-analysis demonstrated that radiomics-based ML models for predicting culprit plaques had a satisfactory performance, with an AUC of 0.85, surpassing clinical models. However, combining radiomics with clinical features yielded the highest AUC of 0.89. Meta-regression analyses confirmed these findings. MRI-based models slightly outperformed CT-based ones, but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSION In conclusion, radiomics and ML hold promise for assessing carotid plaque vulnerability, aiding in early cerebrovascular event prediction. Combining radiomics with clinical data enhances predictive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastiano Vacca
- University of Cagliari, School of Medicine and Surgery, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Roberta Scicolone
- Department of Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria (A.O.U.), di Cagliari-Polo di Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Ajay Gupta
- Department of Radiology Weill, Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bruce Allan Wasserman
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 367 East Park building, 600 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Jae Song
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Valentina Nardi
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Qi Yang
- Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - John Benson
- Department of Radiology Mayo Clinic Rochester MN, USA
| | | | | | - Jasjit S Suri
- Stroke Monitoring and Diagnostic Division, AtheroPoint™, Roseville, CA 95661, USA
| | - Luca Saba
- Department of Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria (A.O.U.), di Cagliari-Polo di Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
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Locham S, Balceniuk MD, Byrne M, Hoang T, Mix D, Newhall K, Doyle A, Stoner M. Use of Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa Inhibitors in Patients Undergoing Carotid Artery Stenting in the Vascular Quality Initiative. Ann Vasc Surg 2024; 103:151-158. [PMID: 37473837 DOI: 10.1016/j.avsg.2023.07.097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antiplatelet therapies with thromboxane inhibitors and adenosine 5'-diphosphate antagonists have been widely used following carotid artery stenting (CAS). However, these therapies may not apply to patients who are intolerant or present acutely. Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPI) are a proposed alternative therapy in these patients; however, their use has been limited due to concerns of increased risk for intracranial bleeding. Thus, this study aims to assess the safety profile of GPI in patients undergoing CAS. METHODS All patients undergoing CAS in the Society of Vascular Surgery - Vascular Quality Initiative database from 2012 to 2021 was included and grouped into GPI versus non-GPI therapy (control). The primary outcome was in-hospital stroke or death, and secondary outcomes included in-hospital stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), death, myocardial infarction, and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH)/seizure. Patients were stratified by surgical approach (Transcarotid artery revascularization using flow reversal (TCAR) and transfemoral carotid artery stenting), and stepwise backward logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate major primary and secondary outcomes. RESULTS A total of 50,628 patients underwent carotid revascularization. Of these, 4.4% of the patients received GPI. Mean age was similar between control versus GPI (71.35(9.67) vs. 71.36(10.20) years). Compared to the control group, patients who receive GPI are less likely to be on optimal medical therapy, including aspirin (83.0% vs. 88.1%), P2Y12 inhibitor (73.0% vs. 82.7%), and statin (82.3% vs. 86.0%) (All P < 0.05). In addition, patients in the GPI group were more likely to undergo TCAR for carotid revascularization (52.2% vs. 48.4%) for emergent/urgent (29.4% vs. 16.8%) and symptomatic indications (55.5% vs. 49.7%) (All P < 0.001). After stratifying by surgical approach, if patients underwent TFCAS and received a GPI, they were at increased odds of developing stroke/death (1.77(1.25-2.51)), death (odds ratio (OR) (95% CI): 1.67(1.07-2.61)), stroke/TIA (OR (95% confidence interval (CI)): 1.65(1.09-2.51)), and ICH/seizure (OR (95% CI): 2.13(1.23-3.68)) (All P < 0.05). No difference was seen in outcomes between the 2 groups if undergoing TCAR. CONCLUSIONS Patients who receive GPI were more likely to be symptomatic at presentation and less likely to be medically optimized before their carotid revascularization. Transfemoral access in patients receiving GPI was associated with increased odds of morbidity and mortality. However, this was not observed if undergoing TCAR. TCAR can be considered for its overall favorable results in high-risk patients who are not medically optimized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satinderjit Locham
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
| | - Mark D Balceniuk
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
| | - Matthew Byrne
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
| | - Timothy Hoang
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
| | - Doran Mix
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
| | - Karina Newhall
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
| | - Adam Doyle
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
| | - Michael Stoner
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.
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Grimes K, Mehndiratta P, Chaturvedi S. The impact of sex on stroke care: From epidemiology to outcome. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2024; 33:107675. [PMID: 38467238 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2024.107675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Carotid stenosis and atrial fibrillation are key risk factors for development of hemispheric strokes. In this review we aim to identify sex-specific differences in the pathophysiology and treatment of these risk factors and areas for future study. KEY FINDINGS Women are underrepresented in research studies of stroke in patients with carotid disease and atrial fibrillation. However, key differences have been found between men and women that suggest that the development of carotid disease and atrial fibrillation occur at later stages of life and are associated with higher severity of stroke. Some treatments, including surgical treatment, seem to have different rates of efficacy and women and women are at higher risk of surgical complications. This suggests that treatment recommendations may need to be sex specific. CONCLUSION Efforts should be made to address research and treatment gaps in women with stroke risk factors. This may lead to the development of sex-specific recommendations for stroke prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Grimes
- Department of Neurology & Stroke Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine
| | - Prachi Mehndiratta
- Department of Neurology & Stroke Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine
| | - Seemant Chaturvedi
- Department of Neurology & Stroke Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine.
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Harish KB, Speranza G, Rockman CB, Sadek M, Jacobowitz GR, Garg K, Teter KA, Maldonado TS. Natural history of internal carotid artery stenosis progression. J Vasc Surg 2024; 79:297-304. [PMID: 37925038 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2023.10.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the natural history of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis progression. METHODS This single-institution retrospective cohort study analyzed patients diagnosed with ICA stenosis of 50% or greater on duplex ultrasound from 2015 to 2022. Subjects were drawn from our institutional Intersocietal Accreditation Commission-accredited noninterventional vascular laboratory database. Primary outcomes were incidences of disease progression, and stroke or revascularization after index study. Progression was defined as an increase in stenosis classification category. Imaging, demographic, and clinical data was obtained from our institutional electronic medical record via a database mining query. Cases were analyzed at the patient and artery levels, with severity corresponding to the greatest degree of ICA stenosis on index and follow-up studies. RESULTS Of 577 arteries in 467 patients, mean cohort age was 73.5 ± 8.9 years at the time of the index study, and 45.0% (n = 210) were female. Patients were followed with duplex ultrasound for a mean of 42.2 ± 22.7 months. Of 577 arteries, 65.5% (n = 378) at the index imaging study had moderate (50%-69%) stenosis, 23.7% (n = 137) had severe (70%-99%) stenosis, and 10.7% (n = 62) were occluded. These three groups had significant differences in age, hypertension, hyperlipidemia prevalence, and proportion on best medical therapy. Of the 467-patient cohort, 56.5% (n = 264) were on best medical therapy, defined as smoking cessation, treatment with an antiplatelet agent, statin, and antihypertensive and glycemic agents as indicated. Mean time to progression for affected arteries was 28.0 ± 20.5 months. Of those arteries with nonocclusive disease at diagnosis, 21.3% (n = 123) progressed in their level of stenosis. Older age, diabetes, and a history of vasculitis were associated with stenosis progression, whereas antiplatelet agent use trended towards decreased progression rates. Of the 467 patients, 5.6% (n = 26) developed symptoms; of those, 38.5% (n = 10) had ischemic strokes, 26.9% (n = 7) had hemispheric transient ischemic attacks, 11.5% (n = 3) had amaurosis fugax, and 23.1% (n = 6) had other symptoms. A history of head and neck cancer was positively associated with symptom development. Of 577 affected arteries, 16.6% (n = 96) underwent intervention; 81% (n = 78) of interventions were for asymptomatic disease and 19% (n = 18) were for symptomatic disease. No patient-level factors were associated with risk of intervention. CONCLUSIONS A significant number of carotid stenosis patients experience progression of disease. Physicians should consider long-term surveillance on all patients with carotid disease, with increased attention paid to those with risk factors for progression, particularly those with diabetes and a history of vasculitis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Caron B Rockman
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Mikel Sadek
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Glenn R Jacobowitz
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Karan Garg
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Katherine A Teter
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Thomas S Maldonado
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY.
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Ramsay IA, Burks JD, Lu VM, Silva M, Abdelsalam A, Starke RM, Luther E. Perioperative Outcomes in Transcarotid Artery Revascularization Versus Carotid Endarterectomy or Stenting Nationwide. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown) 2023; 25:453-460. [PMID: 37988322 DOI: 10.1227/ons.0000000000000865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) is a newer treatment for carotid stenosis where the carotid artery is accessed directly in the neck for stenting. It is less invasive than carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and has less embolic potential than carotid artery stenting (CAS), but population-level utilization of TCAR and outcomes are currently unknown. Our study compares outcomes of TCAR with those of CEA and CAS. METHODS The National Inpatient Database was used for years 2015 to 2019. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to compare CEA, CAS, and TCAR outcomes with age, sex, race, hospital teaching status, symptomatic carotid disease status, side of procedure, intraoperative monitoring, and the weighted Elixhauser comorbidity score as covariates. RESULTS TCAR comprised 0.69% of these procedures in 2016, rising to 1.35% in 2019. The inpatient rates of death, stroke, and myocardial infarction for TCAR were 0.63% (95% confidence interval: 0.36%, 1.06%), 0.42% (0.21%, 0.80%), and 1.46% (1.04%, 2.05%), respectively. Compared with CEA, TCAR had statistically insignificant difference odds of death, odds ratio (95% CI) for stroke was 0.47 (0.25, 0.87), and for myocardial infarction, it was 0.66 (0.37, 0.94). Compared with CAS, for TCAR, the odds ratio for death was 0.41 (0.24, 0.71), and for stroke, it was 0.48 (0.26, 0.91). CONCLUSION TCAR is underutilized relative to other revascularization techniques yet has favorable outcomes compared with CEA and CAS. TCAR may be preferred to CAS in patients not surgical candidates for CEA and has a less invasive possibility for those eligible for CEA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian A Ramsay
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine MD-MPH Program, Miami , Florida , USA
| | - Joshua D Burks
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami , Florida , USA
| | - Victor M Lu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami , Florida , USA
| | - Michael Silva
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami , Florida , USA
| | - Ahmed Abdelsalam
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami , Florida , USA
| | - Robert M Starke
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami , Florida , USA
| | - Evan Luther
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami , Florida , USA
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Khan H, Shaikh F, Syed MH, Mamdani M, Saposnik G, Qadura M. Current Biomarkers for Carotid Artery Stenosis: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature. Metabolites 2023; 13:919. [PMID: 37623863 PMCID: PMC10456624 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13080919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Carotid artery stenosis (CAS), an atherosclerotic disease of the carotid artery, is one of the leading causes of transient ischemic attacks (TIA) and cerebrovascular attacks (CVA). The atherogenic process of CAS affects a wide range of physiological processes, such as inflammation, endothelial cell function, smooth muscle cell migration and many more. The current gold-standard test for CAS is Doppler ultrasound; however, there is yet to be determined a strong, clinically validated biomarker in the blood that can diagnose patients with CAS and/or predict adverse outcomes in such patients. In this comprehensive literature review, we evaluated all of the current research on plasma and serum proteins that are current contenders for biomarkers for CAS. In this literature review, 36 proteins found as potential biomarkers for CAS were categorized in to the following nine categories based on protein function: (1) Inflammation and Immunity, (2) Lipid Metabolism, (3) Haemostasis, (4) Cardiovascular Markers, (5) Markers of Kidney Function, (6) Bone Health, (7) Cellular Structure, (8) Growth Factors, and (9) Hormones. This literature review is the most up-to-date and current comprehensive review of research on biomarkers of CAS, and the only review that demonstrated the several pathways that contribute to the initiation and progression of the disease. With this review, future studies can determine if any new markers, or a panel of the proteins explored in this study, may be contenders as diagnostic or prognostic markers for CAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamzah Khan
- Division of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada; (H.K.); (F.S.); (M.H.S.)
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada; (M.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Farah Shaikh
- Division of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada; (H.K.); (F.S.); (M.H.S.)
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada; (M.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Muzammil H. Syed
- Division of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada; (H.K.); (F.S.); (M.H.S.)
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada; (M.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Muhammad Mamdani
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada; (M.M.); (G.S.)
- Temerty Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Education in Medicine (T-CAIREM), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
| | - Gustavo Saposnik
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada; (M.M.); (G.S.)
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, 55 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M5C 1R6, Canada
| | - Mohammad Qadura
- Division of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada; (H.K.); (F.S.); (M.H.S.)
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, 55 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M5C 1R6, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1P5, Canada
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Banks CA, Pearce BJ. Interventions in Carotid Artery Surgery: An Overview of Current Management and Future Implications. Surg Clin North Am 2023; 103:645-671. [PMID: 37455030 DOI: 10.1016/j.suc.2023.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Atherosclerotic carotid artery disease has been well studied over the last half-century by multiple randomized controlled trials attempting to elucidate the appropriate modality of therapy for this disease process. Surgical techniques have evolved from carotid artery endarterectomy and transfemoral carotid artery stenting to the development of hybrid techniques in transcarotid artery revascularization. In this article, the authors provide a review of the available literature regarding operative and medical management of carotid artery disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Adam Banks
- Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1808 7th Avenue South, Boshell Diabetes Building 652, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Benjamin J Pearce
- Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1808 7th Avenue South, Boshell Diabetes Building 652, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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Xodo A, Barbui F, Desole A, Pilon F, Zaramella M, Milite D. Bypass and other modified reconstruction techniques for 'challenging' carotid cases: A comparison with conventional endarterectomy. Vascular 2023:17085381231174946. [PMID: 37172198 DOI: 10.1177/17085381231174946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Standard carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is usually performed with patch closure or eversion. However, sometimes a 'modified' carotid artery revascularization (MCAR) technique is required if the lesion is complex, extended and anatomically or technically challenging. MCAR is defined as carotid artery bypass; otherwise, it is the combination of common carotid artery (CCA) primary suture or patch angioplasty, associated with internal carotid artery (ICA) patch closure or eversion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of MCAR during complex carotid procedures, comparing them with standard CEA. METHODS A retrospective analysis of asymptomatic patients who underwent CEA during a 16-year period (June 2005 to June 2021) was performed. Patients were divided into three different groups: ECEA (eversion CEA), PCEA (CEA with patch angioplasty) and MCAR. Primary endpoints were relevant neurological complication rate (RNCR), death within 30 days, freedom from ipsilateral stroke, reintervention rates and freedom from carotid artery restenosis. RESULTS A total of 1,752 patients were included (ECEA: 699; PCEA: 948; MCAR: 105) in the study. Patients treated with MCAR were significantly older and had a higher SVS score for arterial hypertension compared with ECEA and PCEA groups. A long plaque in the CCA was the most common indication for MCAR (40.1%); inadequate distal plaque-end or distal dissection (25.7%) was the second most prevalent indication. Overall perioperative RNCR, defined as minor and major stroke, was 0.7% (ECEA: 0.4%; PCEA: 0.7%; MCAR: 1.9%; p = 0.22), without any significant difference among the three groups. However, patients treated with MCAR had a significantly higher rate of global central neurological complications (defined as transient ischaemic attack, minor stroke and major stroke) than the other cohorts (ECEA: 0.7%; PCEA: 1.2%; MCAR: 3.8%; p = 0.02). One patient (0.05%) died perioperatively of a major cerebral infarction. Long-term follow-up (66.7 ± 43.9) showed a significantly lower rate of freedom from ipsilateral stroke for the MCAR group (96.8%) compared with ECEA and PCEA groups (99.8% and 98.9%, respectively, p = 0.03). Similar reintervention rates (ECEA: 2.7%; PCEA: 3.3%; MCAR: 3.8%; p = 0.74) and freedom from carotid restenosis rates (ECEA: 1.3%; PCEA: 2.6%; MCAR: 1.9%; p = 0.16) were observed. CONCLUSIONS Patients who underwent ICA revascularization with MCAR showed risks of perioperative death, major or minor stroke (<2%), reintervention rates and carotid restenosis rates that are comparable with PCEA or ECEA groups. Nevertheless, the MCAR group showed a significantly higher rate of global central neurological complications (considering together TIA, minor stroke and major stroke) than patients treated with standard CEA. MCAR techniques appear to be effective alternatives to standard CEAs, with an acceptable surgical risk. However, these should be performed mainly in selected cases, for example, in complex anatomy (detected in a non-negligible percentage of patients by preoperative imaging), or in the case of unexpected intraoperative technical issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Xodo
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, "San Bortolo" Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Federico Barbui
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, "San Bortolo" Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Alessandro Desole
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, "San Bortolo" Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Fabio Pilon
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, "San Bortolo" Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
| | | | - Domenico Milite
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, "San Bortolo" Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
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Bose S, Stonko DP, Pappas GM, Drudi LM, Stoner MC, Hicks CW. Females are less likely to receive best medical therapy for stroke prevention before and after carotid revascularization than males. J Vasc Surg 2023; 77:786-794.e2. [PMID: 36241125 PMCID: PMC9974567 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2022.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current professional guidelines recommend best medical therapy (BMT) with statin agents and antiplatelet therapy for primary and secondary stroke prevention in patients with carotid artery stenosis. We aimed to assess the association of patient sex with preoperative BMT in patients undergoing carotid revascularization. METHODS We performed a retrospective review of Vascular Quality Initiative patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy or carotid artery stenting between January 2003 and February 2022. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association of patient sex with preoperative BMT after adjusting for sociodemographic, comorbidity, and disease severity characteristics. In-hospital outcomes were assessed by sex and preoperative BMT status. RESULTS Of 214,008 patients who underwent carotid revascularization, 38.7% (n = 82,855) were female and 61.3% (n = 131,153) were male. Overall, 77.2% (n = 63,922) of females were on preoperative BMT, compared with 80.4% (n = 105,375) of males (P < .001). After adjusting for baseline differences, females had 11% lower odds of being on BMT compared with males (adjusted odds ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.86-0.91). Postoperatively, females had 18% lower odds of being prescribed BMT than males (adjusted odds ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.79-0.84). In-hospital stroke (1.20% vs 1.51%), death (0.37% vs 0.66%), and stroke/death (1.46% vs 1.98%) were all significantly lower for patients on BMT (all P < .001). CONCLUSIONS There is a significant discrepancy in the proportion of females versus males receiving preoperative BMT for stroke prevention before carotid artery revascularization. In-hospital outcomes are worse in patients without BMT, highlighting the importance of raising awareness and implementing targeted interventions to improve preoperative adherence to stroke prevention guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanuja Bose
- Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David P. Stonko
- Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Georgina M. Pappas
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Laura M. Drudi
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Michael C. Stoner
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Caitlin W. Hicks
- Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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FEDORINA M, DAVYDKIN I, GALATI G, BIONDI-ZOCCAI G, GERMANOVA O. Carotid bifurcation stenosis: functional importance in physical exercises. ITALIAN JOURNAL OF VASCULAR AND ENDOVASCULAR SURGERY 2023. [DOI: 10.23736/s1824-4777.22.01572-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
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12
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Culleton S, Baradaran H, Kim SE, Stoddard G, Roberts J, Treiman G, Parker D, Duff K, McNally JS. MRI Detection of Carotid Intraplaque Hemorrhage and Postintervention Cognition. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2022; 43:1762-1769. [PMID: 36357151 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a7701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Cognitive improvement has been reported after carotid revascularization and attributed to treating stenosis and correcting hypoperfusion. This study investigated the effect of carotid intraplaque hemorrhage on postintervention cognition. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this institutional review board-approved single-center study, consecutive patients scheduled for carotid surgery were recruited for preoperative carotid MR imaging (MPRAGE) and pre- and postintervention cognitive testing using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status. Pre- and postintervention scores were compared using t tests and multivariable linear regression. RESULTS Twenty-three participants were included, with endarterectomy performed in 20 (87%) and angioplasty/stent placement, in 3 (13%). Overall, statistically significant improvements occurred in the pre- versus postintervention mean Total Scale score (92.1 [SD, 15.5] versus 96.1 [SD, 15.8], P = .04), immediate memory index (89.4 [SD, 18.2] versus 97.7 [SD, 14.9], P < .001), and verbal index (96.1 [SD, 14.1] versus 103.0 [SD, 12.0], P = .002). Intraplaque hemorrhage (+) participants (n = 11) had no significant improvement in any category, and the attention index significantly decreased (99.4 [SD, 18.0] versus 93.5 [SD, 19.4], P = .045). Intraplaque hemorrhage (-) participants (n = 12) significantly improved in the Total Scale score (86.4 [SD, 11.8] versus 95.5 [SD, 12.4], P = .004), immediate memory index (82.3 [SD, 14.6] versus 96.2 [SD, 14.1], P = .002), delayed memory index (94.3 [SD, 14.9] versus 102.4 [SD, 8.0], P = .03), and verbal index (94.3 [SD, 13.2] versus 101.5 [SD, 107.4], P = .009). Postintervention minus preintervention scores for intraplaque hemorrhage (+) versus (-) groups showed statistically significant differences in the Total Scale score (-0.4 [SD, 6.8] versus 8.0 [SD, 8.5], P = .02), attention index (-5.9 [SD, 8.5] versus 4.3 [SD, 11.9], P = .03), and immediate memory index (4.2 [SD, 6.7] versus 12.2 [SD, 10.2], P = .04). CONCLUSIONS Cognitive improvement was observed after carotid intervention, and this was attributable to intraplaque hemorrhage (-) plaque. MR imaging detection of intraplaque hemorrhage status may be an important determinant of cognitive change after intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Culleton
- From the Department of Radiology (S.C., H.B., S.-E.K., J.R., D.P., J.S.M.)
| | - H Baradaran
- From the Department of Radiology (S.C., H.B., S.-E.K., J.R., D.P., J.S.M.)
| | - S-E Kim
- From the Department of Radiology (S.C., H.B., S.-E.K., J.R., D.P., J.S.M.)
| | - G Stoddard
- Utah Center for Advanced Imaging Research, Division of Epidemiology (G.S.)
| | - J Roberts
- From the Department of Radiology (S.C., H.B., S.-E.K., J.R., D.P., J.S.M.)
| | - G Treiman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Surgery (G.T.)
| | - D Parker
- From the Department of Radiology (S.C., H.B., S.-E.K., J.R., D.P., J.S.M.)
| | - K Duff
- Center for Alzheimer's Care, Imaging and Research (K.D.), University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - J S McNally
- From the Department of Radiology (S.C., H.B., S.-E.K., J.R., D.P., J.S.M.)
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Stonko DP, Goldsborough E, Kibrik P, Zhang G, Holscher CM, Hicks CW. Use of Transcarotid Artery Revascularization, Transfemoral Carotid Artery Stenting, and Carotid Endarterectomy in the US From 2015 to 2019. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2231944. [PMID: 36112371 PMCID: PMC9482062 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.31944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE A transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) device was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2015 for carotid revascularization in patients at high risk for stroke, cranial nerve injury, or major cardiac event. It is unclear how the introduction of TCAR has changed the use of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and transfemoral carotid artery stenting (TFCAS). OBJECTIVE To quantify the temporal changes in the operative approach to carotid revascularization (CEA vs TFCAS vs TCAR), and to identify patient and disease characteristics commonly associated with each approach. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective cohort study obtained data from the Vascular Quality Initiative database from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019. Patients with carotid artery stenosis who underwent CEA, TFCAS, or TCAR were included. Data were analyzed from January to April 2022. EXPOSURES Month and year of surgery as well as patient risk status. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Number and proportion of carotid revascularization procedures by operative approach. RESULTS A total of 108 676 patients (mean [SD] age 56.6 [12.5] years; 66 684 men [61.4%]) were included in the analysis. The most common operative approach overall was CEA (n = 81 508 [75.0%]), followed by TFCAS (n = 15 578 [14.3%]) and TCAR (n = 11 590 [10.7%]). The number of procedures increased over the study period (16 754 in 2015 vs 27 269 in 2019; P < .001). In 2015, CEA was used in 84.9% of all cases, followed by TFCAS (14.4%) and TCAR (0.8%). In 2019, CEA was used in 64.8% of cases, followed by TCAR (21.9%) and TFCAS (13.3%). The proportional use of CEA decreased by 5.0% (95% CI, -7.4% to -2.6%) per year, and TCAR use increased by 5.3% (95% CI, 2.3%-8.3%) per year. Among patients at high risk, the change was greater: CEA use decreased by 7.8% (95% CI, -11.9% to -3.8%) per year, TFCAS decreased by 4.8% (95% CI, -9.5% to -0.14%) per year, and TCAR increased by 12.6% (95% CI, 7.1%-18.1%) per year. Multinomial logistic regression showed that patient risk status was the most important characteristic associated with TCAR compared with CEA (relative risk ratio, 36.10; 95% CI, 29.24-44.66; P < .001) and TFCAS (relative risk ratio, 14.10; 95% CI, 11.86-16.66; P < .001). Linear regression revealed no association between year of surgery and in-hospital myocardial infarction, stroke, or mortality. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Results of this study indicate that TCAR has become the dominant carotid revascularization approach, surpassing TFCAS and CEA in patients at high risk for stroke, cranial nerve injury, or cardiovascular events. Patient high-risk status was the main characteristic associated with a stenting approach, highlighting the perceived importance of carotid stenting therapies in this patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P. Stonko
- Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
- R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore
| | - Earl Goldsborough
- Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Pavel Kibrik
- Vascular Institute of New York, Brooklyn, New York
| | - George Zhang
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Courtenay M. Holscher
- Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Caitlin W. Hicks
- Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
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Naeem Khan MN, Ahmed A, Zafar I, Akhtar S, Aurangzeb MH, Khan A. The Diagnostic Accuracy of Carotid Doppler in Detecting Anechoic Thrombus Against CT Angiography as the Gold Standard. Cureus 2022; 14:e26951. [PMID: 35989793 PMCID: PMC9381034 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.26951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective In this study, we aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of carotid Doppler ultrasound (CDU) in detecting anechoic carotid artery thrombus when compared to CT angiography (CTA) as the gold standard. Materials and methods This prospective comparative study was conducted at the Radiology Department of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad from January 2022 to May 2022. The study enrolled 32 patients who met the inclusion criteria. We evaluated patients admitted to the neurology ward/OPD who were referred to radiology as part of a stroke workup based on their clinical examination and medical history. In all patients, CDU was used to detect free-floating thrombus (FFT)/anechoic thrombus. CTA was used as the gold standard to assess the diagnostic accuracy of CDU. Results The mean age of the study participants was 45.63 ± 7.05 years (range: 33-59 years). Out of 32 patients, 19 (59.4%) were male and 13 (40.6%) were female. The results of CDU were confirmed by CTA in all patients. The diagnostic accuracy of CDU was 53.12% for detecting FFT. The values for sensitivity (54.55%), specificity (50%), positive predictive value (PPV, 70.59%), and negative predictive value (NPV, 33.33%) were also calculated. Conclusion Despite the limited sample size, the study concludes that CDU has a diagnostic accuracy of 53%. CTA still remains the gold standard imaging modality for anechoic thrombus if strong clinical suspicion is present.
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Evaluation of Intima-Media Thickness and Arterial Stiffness as Early Ultrasound Biomarkers of Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis. Cardiol Ther 2022; 11:231-247. [PMID: 35362868 PMCID: PMC9135926 DOI: 10.1007/s40119-022-00261-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Carotid atherosclerosis is a major and potentially preventable cause of ischemic stroke. It begins early in life and progresses silently over the years. Identification of individuals with subclinical atherosclerosis is needed to initiate early aggressive vascular prevention. Although carotid plaque appears to be a powerful predictor of cardiovascular risk, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and arterial stiffness can be detected at the initial phases and, therefore, they are considered important new biomarkers of carotid atherosclerosis. There is a well-documented association between CIMT and cerebrovascular events. CIMT provides a reliable marker in young people, in whom plaque formation or calcification is not established. However, the usefulness of CIMT measurement in the improvement of risk cardiovascular models is still controversial. Carotid stiffness is also significantly associated with ischemic stroke. Carotid stiffness adds value to the existing risk prediction based on Framingham risk factors, particularly individuals at intermediate cardiovascular risk. Carotid ultrasound is used to assess carotid atherosclerosis. During the last decade, automated techniques for sophisticated analysis of vascular mechanics have evolved, such as speckle tracking, and new methods based on deep learning have been proposed with promising outcomes. Additional research is needed to investigate the imaging-based cardiovascular risk prediction of CIMT and stiffness.
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Vasuri F, de Biase D, Vacirca A, Acquaviva G, Sanza V, Gargiulo M, Pasquinelli G. Gene polymorphism in tissue epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) influences clinical and histological vulnerability of carotid plaques. Pathol Res Pract 2022; 229:153721. [PMID: 34942514 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2021.153721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Different models have been proposed for the prediction of the risk/benefit ratio of surgery in patients with carotid atheromasic disease, mainly based on clinical patients' characteristics and risk factors, but no definite biological markers predictive of plaque instability and disease evolution have emerged so far, able to help the surgeon in the choice and timing of treatment. The main purpose of the present study was to assess the role of the polymorphism for genes commonly implicated in cell proliferation and neoangiogenesis in the clinical and histopathological carotid plaque vulnerability. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively studied 29 consecutive patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy in 6 months. All histological variables were collected, as well as patients' cardiovascular risk factors, clinical presentation, and brain computed tomography (CT) for the presence of ischemic lesions. Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) was performed on 10-µm FFPE sections by means of a multi-gene panel used for sequencing 343 amplicons in 28 genes. RESULTS Among the gene variants observed, the polymorphism p.(Gln787=) in the EGFR gene was inversely correlated with intraplaque hemorrhage (p = 0.014), but also with the presence of ischemic brain lesions at CT (p = 0.001). Also p.(Gly105=) polymorphism in the IDH1 gene was inversely correlated with the presence of ischemic brain lesions (p = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS The variant p.(Gln787=) in the EGFR gene seems to play a role in plaque stability in patients with carotid atheromasic disease, on both histopathological and clinical grounds, probably acting on plaque matrix remodeling. This can open new scenarios on the pre-surgical management of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Vasuri
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Dario de Biase
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Vacirca
- Vascular Surgery Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giorgia Acquaviva
- Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Viviana Sanza
- Molecular Pathology Laboratory, AUSL Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mauro Gargiulo
- Vascular Surgery Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gianandrea Pasquinelli
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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