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Fernández-Alvarez V, Linares-Sánchez M, Suárez C, López F, Guntinas-Lichius O, Mäkitie AA, Bradley PJ, Ferlito A. Novel Imaging-Based Biomarkers for Identifying Carotid Plaque Vulnerability. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1236. [PMID: 37627301 PMCID: PMC10452902 DOI: 10.3390/biom13081236] [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: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Carotid artery disease has traditionally been assessed based on the degree of luminal narrowing. However, this approach, which solely relies on carotid stenosis, is currently being questioned with regard to modern risk stratification approaches. Recent guidelines have introduced the concept of the "vulnerable plaque," emphasizing specific features such as thin fibrous caps, large lipid cores, intraplaque hemorrhage, plaque rupture, macrophage infiltration, and neovascularization. In this context, imaging-based biomarkers have emerged as valuable tools for identifying higher-risk patients. Non-invasive imaging modalities and intravascular techniques, including ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, intravascular ultrasound, optical coherence tomography, and near-infrared spectroscopy, have played pivotal roles in characterizing and detecting unstable carotid plaques. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the evolving understanding of carotid artery disease and highlight the significance of imaging techniques in assessing plaque vulnerability and informing clinical decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Fernández-Alvarez
- Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hospital Universitario de Cabueñes, 33394 Gijón, Spain;
| | - Miriam Linares-Sánchez
- Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hospital Universitario de Cabueñes, 33394 Gijón, Spain;
| | - Carlos Suárez
- Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (C.S.); (F.L.)
| | - Fernando López
- Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (C.S.); (F.L.)
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Instituto Universitario de Oncologia del Principado de Asturias, University of Oviedo, CIBERONC, 33011 Oviedo, Spain
| | | | - Antti A. Mäkitie
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 263, 00029 Helsinki, Finland;
- Research Program in Systems Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Division of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Department of Clinical Sciences, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Patrick J. Bradley
- Department of ORLHNS, Queens Medical Centre Campus, Nottingham University Hospitals, Derby Road, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK;
| | - Alfio Ferlito
- Coordinator of the International Head and Neck Scientific Group, 35100 Padua, Italy;
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Zheng Y, Lim MJR, Tan BYQ, Chan BPL, Paliwal P, Jonathan OJY, Bharatendu C, Chan ACY, Yeo LLL, Vijayan J, Hong CS, Chee YH, Wong LYH, Chen J, Chong VYF, Dong Y, Tan CH, Sunny S, Teoh HL, Sinha AK, Sharma VK. Role of plaque inflammation in symptomatic carotid stenosis. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1086465. [PMID: 36761341 PMCID: PMC9902904 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1086465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Prior studies have shown that plaque inflammation on FDG-PET and the symptomatic carotid atheroma inflammation lumen-stenosis (SCAIL) score were associated with recurrent ischemic events, but the findings have thus far not been widely validated. Therefore, we aimed to validate the findings of prior studies. Methods A single-center prospective cohort study that recruited patients with (1) recent TIA or ischemic stroke within the past 30 days, (2) ipsilateral carotid artery stenosis of ≥50%, and (3) were not considered for early carotid revascularization. The (1) maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the symptomatic carotid plaque, (2) the SCAIL score, and (3) stenosis severity of the symptomatic carotid artery were measured for all patients. The outcomes were (1) a 90-day ipsilateral ischemic stroke and (2) a 90-day ipsilateral symptomatic TIA or major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE). Results Among the 131 patients included in the study, the commonest cardiovascular risk factor was hypertension (95 patients, 72.5%), followed by diabetes mellitus (77 patients, 58.8%) and being a current smoker (64 patients, 48.9%). The median (IQR) duration between the index cerebral ischemic event and recruitment to the study was 1 (0, 2.5) days. The median (IQR) duration between the index cerebral ischemic event and FDG-PET was 5 (4, 7) days. A total of 14 (10.7%) patients had a 90-day stroke, and 41 (31.3%) patients had a 90-day TIA or MACE. On comparison of the predictive performances of the SCAIL score and SUVmax, SUVmax was found to be superior to the SCAIL score for predicting both 90-day ipsilateral ischemic stroke (AUC: SCAIL = 0.79, SUVmax = 0.92; p < 0.001; 95% CI = 0.072, 0.229) and 90-day TIA or MACE (AUC: SCAIL = 0.76, SUVmax = 0.84; p = 0.009; 95% CI = 0.020, 0.143). Conclusion Plaque inflammation as quantified on FDG-PET may serve as a reliable biomarker for risk stratification among patients with ECAD and recent TIA or ischemic stroke. Future studies should evaluate whether patients with significant plaque inflammation as quantified on FDG-PET benefit from carotid revascularization and/or anti-inflammatory therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilong Zheng
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mervyn Jun Rui Lim
- Division of Neurosurgery, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Benjamin Yong-Qiang Tan
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore,Division of Neurology, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | | | - Chandra Bharatendu
- Division of Neurology, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | - Joy Vijayan
- Division of Neurology, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chiew S. Hong
- Division of Neurology, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Young Heng Chee
- Division of Neurology, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lily Y. H. Wong
- Division of Neurology, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jintao Chen
- Division of Neurology, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Yanhong Dong
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chi Hsien Tan
- Division of Neurology, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sibi Sunny
- Division of Neurology, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hock Luen Teoh
- Division of Neurology, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Arvind Kumar Sinha
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vijay Kumar Sharma
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore,Division of Neurology, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore,*Correspondence: Vijay Kumar Sharma ✉
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Giannotti N, McNulty J, Foley S, McCabe J, Barry M, Crowe M, Dolan E, Harbison J, Horgan G, Kavanagh E, O'Connell M, Marnane M, Murphy S, Donnell CM, O'Donohoe M, Williams D, Kelly PJ. Association Between 18-FDG Positron Emission Tomography and MRI Biomarkers of Plaque Vulnerability in Patients With Symptomatic Carotid Stenosis. Front Neurol 2022; 12:731744. [PMID: 35002912 PMCID: PMC8732361 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.731744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Pathologic studies suggest that unstable plaque morphology and inflammation are associated with cerebrovascular events. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET) is a validated technique for non-invasive imaging of inflammation-related plaque metabolism, and MRI can identify morphologic features of plaque instability. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of selected imaging characteristics of plaque vulnerability measured with MRI and PET in patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis. Methods: Patients from the BIOVASC study were selected based on the following inclusion criteria: (1) age ≥ 50 years; (2) recent (<30 days) ischaemic stroke (modified Rankin scale ≤3) or motor/speech/vision TIA; (3) ipsilateral internal carotid artery stenosis (≥5 0% lumen-narrowing); (4) carotid PET/CTA and MRI completed. Semi-automated plaque analysis of MRI images was performed to quantify morphologic features of plaque instability. PET images were co-registered with CTA and inflammation-related metabolism expressed as maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax). Results: Twenty-five patients met inclusion criteria (72% men, mean age 65 years). MRI-measured plaque volume was greater in men (1,708–1,286 mm3, p = 0.03), patients who qualified with stroke (1,856–1,440 mm3, p = 0.05), and non-statin users (1,325–1,797 mm3, p = 0.03). SUVmax was associated with MRI-measured plaque lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC) in the corresponding axial slice (rs = 0.64, p < 0.001) and was inversely associated with whole-plaque fibrous cap thickness (rs = −0.4, p = 0.02) and calcium volume (rs = −0.4, p = 0.03). Conclusion: This study demonstrated novel correlations of non-invasive imaging biomarkers of inflammation-related plaque metabolism with morphological MRI markers of plaque instability. If replicated, our findings may support the application of combined MRI and PET to detect vulnerable plaque in future clinical practise and randomised trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shane Foley
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John McCabe
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Neurovascular Unit for Translational and Therapeutics Research, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Marey Barry
- Vascular Surgery, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Morgan Crowe
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Medicine for the Elderly, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Stroke Service, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eamon Dolan
- Stroke and Hypertension Unit, Connolly Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Joseph Harbison
- Acute Stroke Service, St. James Hospital Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gillian Horgan
- Health Research Board (HRB) Stroke Clinical Trials Network Ireland, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eoin Kavanagh
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Radiology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Martin O'Connell
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Radiology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Michael Marnane
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Neurovascular Unit for Translational and Therapeutics Research, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sean Murphy
- Neurovascular Unit for Translational and Therapeutics Research, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ciaran Mc Donnell
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Martin O'Donohoe
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Vascular Surgery, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David Williams
- Geriatric Medicine, Beaumont Hospital and Royal College Surgeons Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Peter J Kelly
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Neurovascular Unit for Translational and Therapeutics Research, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.,Acute Stroke Service, St. James Hospital Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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