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Huang L, Wu X, Liu Y, Guo X, Ye J, Cai W, Wang S, Luo B. Qualitative and quantitative plaque enhancement on high-resolution vessel wall imaging predicts symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e3032. [PMID: 37128149 PMCID: PMC10275550 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is a major cause of ischemic stroke (IS), and high-resolution vessel wall imaging (HR-VWI) can be used to assess the plaque characteristics of ICAS. This study aimed to qualitatively and quantitatively assess plaque enhancement of ICAS and to investigate the relationship between plaque enhancement, plaque morphological features, and IS. METHODS Data from adult patients with ICAS from April 2018 to July 2022 were retrospectively collected, and all patients underwent HR-VWI examination. Plaque enhancement was qualitatively and quantitatively assessed, and the plaque-to-pituitary stalk contrast ratio (CR) indicated the degree of plaque enhancement. Plaque characteristics, such as plaque burden and area, were quantitatively measured using HR-VWI. Furthermore, receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to assess the ability of CR to discriminate plaque enhancement. The patients were divided into a symptomatic ICAS group and an asymptomatic ICAS group according to the clinical and imaging characteristics. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate which factors were significantly associated with plaque enhancement and symptomatic ICAS. The plaque burden and CR were compared using linear regression. RESULTS A total of 91 patients with ICAS were enrolled in this study. ICAS plaque burden was significantly associated with plaque enhancement (p = .037), and plaque burden was linearly positively correlated with CR (R = 0.357, p = .001). ROC analysis showed that the cutoff value of CR for plaque enhancement was 0.56 (specificity of 81.8%). Both plaque enhancement and plaque burden were significantly associated with symptomatic ICAS, and only plaque enhancement was an independent risk factor after multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION Plaque burden was an independent risk factor for plaque enhancement and showed a linear positive correlation with CR. The cutoff value of CR for plaque enhancement was 0.56, and CR ≥ 0.56 was significantly associated with symptomatic ICAS, which was independently associated with plaque enhancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li‐Xin Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sun Yat‐sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Eighth Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐Sen UniversityShenzhenChina
| | - Xiao‐Bing Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sun Yat‐sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Yi‐Ao Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sun Yat‐sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Eighth Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐Sen UniversityShenzhenChina
| | - Xin Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sun Yat‐sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Eighth Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐Sen UniversityShenzhenChina
| | - Jie‐Shun Ye
- School of Civil Engineering and TransportationSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhouChina
| | - Wang‐Qing Cai
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sun Yat‐sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Sheng‐Wen Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sun Yat‐sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Bin‐ Luo
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Eighth Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐Sen UniversityShenzhenChina
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Catalano M, Crimi L, Belfiore G, Grippaldi D, David E, Spatola C, Cristaudo C, Foti PV, Palmucci S, Basile A. Congenital and acquired anomalies of the basilar artery: A pictorial essay. Neuroradiol J 2023:19714009231177412. [PMID: 37210636 DOI: 10.1177/19714009231177412] [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: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The basilar artery is one of the two cases in our body where an arterial vessel is formed by the union of two others - the vertebral arteries. It provides vascular supply to essential structures for the main vital functions; the posterior cerebral arteries originate from it as terminal branches, and form part of the anastomotic circle of Willis. IMAGING FINDINGS Congenital and acquired anomalies of the basilar trunk are described. We provide a schematic and detailed representation of normal anatomical variants - mainly represented by the fenestrated basilar artery or the persistence of carotid-basilar anastomosis; course anomalies are also illustrated, with reference to neuro-vascular conflicts and dolichoectasia. Among congenital anomalies, this pictorial review also shows the variants of the basilar origin, such as in the case of basilar trunk arising from only one of the two vertebral arteries, and the calibre changes - which are represented by aneurysm and hypoplasia. The latter appears to be a risk factor for posterior circulation stroke, when associated with a bilateral posterior foetal variant.Among the acquired forms, this pictorial essay describes some clinical cases of dissections, non-congenital aneurysms, thrombosis and tumour with vascular encasing or compression of basilar artery. CONCLUSION CT angiography and MRI allow us to study the posterior intracranial circulation in detail, providing useful pre-treatment information. Therefore, knowledge of congenital or acquired anomalies of the basilar artery is essential for radiologists, neuroradiologists and neurosurgeons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Catalano
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University Hospital Policlinico "G. Rodolico-San Marco", Italy
| | - Luca Crimi
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University Hospital Policlinico "G. Rodolico-San Marco", Italy
| | - Giuseppe Belfiore
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University Hospital Policlinico "G. Rodolico-San Marco", Italy
| | - Daniele Grippaldi
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University Hospital Policlinico "G. Rodolico-San Marco", Italy
| | - Emanuele David
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University Hospital Policlinico "G. Rodolico-San Marco", Italy
| | - Corrado Spatola
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University Hospital Policlinico "G. Rodolico-San Marco", Italy
| | - Concetto Cristaudo
- UOC Neuroradiologia, Azienda Ospedaliera per L'Emergenza Cannizzaro, Italy
| | - Pietro Valerio Foti
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University Hospital Policlinico "G. Rodolico-San Marco", Italy
| | - Stefano Palmucci
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University Hospital Policlinico "G. Rodolico-San Marco", Italy
| | - Antonio Basile
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University Hospital Policlinico "G. Rodolico-San Marco", Italy
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Huang J, Jiao S, Chen Y, Lu J, Song Y, Zhang J, Zhang C, Liu C, Gong T, Wang D, Zhu J, Chen M. Efficacy of medical treatment and balloon angioplasty for severe intracranial atherosclerosis: a high-resolution MR vessel wall imaging. Eur Radiol 2023; 33:2478-2488. [PMID: 36418621 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-022-09218-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the efficacy of medical treatment and balloon angioplasty for intracranial atherosclerosis using high-resolution MR vessel wall imaging (HR-MRI). METHODS In this prospective study, patients with symptomatic severe stenosis from January 2018 to August 2021 were treated with medical treatment or balloon angioplasty. The patients underwent HR-MRI at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. Plaque characteristics at follow-up were compared with those at baseline using paired sample T-test or Wilcoxon rank sum test. The difference in the recurrence of ischemic events between two groups was compared. RESULTS A total of 37 patients (26 males; mean age = 60.5 ± 11.6 years) were evaluated. Of 68 plaques, 42 (61.8%) were treated with medication only. At 12 months of medical treatment, maximum plaque length (p = 0.004), maximum wall thickness (p = 0.036), and plaque enhancement (p = 0.001) were significantly reduced than baseline. At 3 months after balloon angioplasty, luminal stenosis (p = 0.048) was significantly reduced compared to baseline. At 6 months after balloon angioplasty, maximum plaque length (p = 0.011), maximum wall thickness (p = 0.003), and luminal stenosis (p = 0.001) were significantly reduced than baseline. No difference was found in the recurrence of ischemic events between two groups (p = 0.458). CONCLUSION Intracranial atherosclerotic plaque shrank and tended to be stable at 12 months of medical treatment. Plaque burden was significantly reduced 6 months after balloon angioplasty. This may provide evidence for the application and selection of treatment strategies for intracranial atherosclerotic disease. KEY POINTS • Plaque burden and plaque enhancement were significantly reduced at 12 months of medical treatment compared to baseline. • Plaque burden was significantly reduced at 6 months after balloon angioplasty compared with baseline. • No significant difference in the recurrence rate of ischemic stroke between patients treated with medication and balloon angioplasty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Huang
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, NO. 1 Dahua Road, Dong Dan, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Sheng Jiao
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, NO. 1 Dahua Road, Dong Dan, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yuhui Chen
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Lu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Song
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, NO. 1 Dahua Road, Dong Dan, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Jintao Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, NO. 1 Dahua Road, Dong Dan, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, NO. 1 Dahua Road, Dong Dan, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Cong Liu
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, NO. 1 Dahua Road, Dong Dan, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Tao Gong
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Daming Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinxia Zhu
- MR Collaboration, Siemens Healthcare Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Min Chen
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, NO. 1 Dahua Road, Dong Dan, Beijing, 100730, China
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Correlation of sLOX-1 Levels and MR Characteristics of Culprit Plaques in Intracranial Arteries with Stroke Recurrence. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13040804. [PMID: 36832291 PMCID: PMC9954821 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13040804] [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: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Symptomatic intracranial artery atherosclerosis (sICAS) is an important cause of acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and is associated with a high risk of stroke recurrence. High-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging (HR-MR-VWI) is an effective method for evaluating atherosclerotic plaque characteristics. Soluble lectin-like oxidised low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1) is closely associated with plaque formation and rupture. We aim to explore the correlation between sLOX-1 levels and culprit plaque characteristics, based on HR-MR-VWI, with stroke recurrence in patients with sICAS. (2) Methods: A total of 199 patients with sICAS underwent HR-MR-VWI between June 2020 and June 2021 in our hospital. The culprit vessel and plaque characteristics were assessed according to HR-MR-VWI, and sLOX-1 levels were measured by ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay). Outpatient follow-up was performed 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after discharge. (3) Results: sLOX-1 levels were significantly higher in the recurrence group than in the non-recurrence group (p < 0.001). The culprit plaque thickness, degree of stenosis and plaque burden were higher in the recurrence group than in the non-recurrence group (p = 0.003, p = 0.014 and p = 0.010, respectively). The incidence of hyperintensity on T1WI, positive remodelling and significant enhancement (p < 0.001, p = 0.003 and p = 0.027, respectively) was higher in the recurrence group than in the non-recurrence group. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that patients with sLOX-1 levels > 912.19 pg/mL and hyperintensity on T1WI in the culprit plaque had a higher risk of stroke recurrence (both p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that sLOX-1 > 912.19 pg/mL (HR = 2.583, 95%CI 1.142, 5.846, p = 0.023) and hyperintensity on T1WI in the culprit plaque (HR = 2.632, 95% CI 1.197, 5.790, p = 0.016) were independent risk factors for stroke recurrence. sLOX-1 levels were significantly associated with the culprit plaque thickness (r = 0.162, p = 0.022), degree of stenosis (r = 0.217, p = 0.002), plaque burden (r = 0.183, p = 0.010), hyperintensity on T1WI (F = 14.501, p < 0.001), positive remodelling (F = 9.602, p < 0.001), and significant enhancement (F = 7.684, p < 0.001) (4) Conclusions: sLOX-1 levels were associated with vulnerability of the culprit plaque and can be used as a supplement to HR-MR-VWI to predict stroke recurrence.
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Sun J, Feng XR, Yang X, Feng PY, Liu YB, Yang HX, Zhang TZ. Correlation between characteristics of intracranial atherosclerotic plaques and ischemic stroke in high-resolution vascular wall MRI. Acta Radiol 2023; 64:732-740. [PMID: 35345899 DOI: 10.1177/02841851221088917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis is a major cause of ischemic stroke, accounting for 30% of ischemic strokes in Asian populations. PURPOSE To investigate the relationship between the degree of arterial stenosis and enhancement grade of intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD), the plaque characteristics in different remodeling patterns, and its potential impact. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 210 patients diagnosed with ICAD were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into the middle cerebral artery (MCA) group (101 cases), posterior cerebral artery (PCA) group (14 cases), basilar artery (BA) group (71 cases), and intracranial segment of vertebral artery (VA) group (90 cases) according to the difference of diseased vessels. Data on presence or absence of ischemic infarction, intracranial vascular position of lesions, plaque characteristics, ICAD enhancement grade, remodeling index, and degree of arterial stenosis were collected for analysis. RESULTS The incidence of ischemic infarction in enhancement grade 2 was significantly higher than that in enhancement grade 1 in MCA group (P = 0.019). Enhancement grade 2 of ICAD was an independent risk factor for the development of ischemic infarction (odds ratio = 4.60; 95% confidence interval: 1.91-11.03; P = 0.001). There was no significant statistical difference in infarct rate between different remodeling modalities (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Enhancement grade of ICAD is significantly associated with the degree of stenosis and the occurrence of ischemic stroke, which varies in different intracranial vessels. The pattern of vascular remodeling varies among different intracranial vessels, and the pattern of vascular remodeling has a significant impact on plaque characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Sun
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, PR China
| | - Xu-Ran Feng
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, PR China
| | - Xuan Yang
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, PR China
| | - Ping-Yong Feng
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, PR China
| | - Yu-Bo Liu
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, PR China
| | - Hai-Xiao Yang
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, PR China
| | - Tian-Zi Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, PR China
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Tian X, Shi Z, Wang Z, Xu B, Peng WJ, Zhang XF, Liu Q, Chen SY, Tian B, Lu JP, Shao CW. Characteristics of culprit intracranial plaque without substantial stenosis in ischemic stroke using three-dimensional high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1160018. [PMID: 37034175 PMCID: PMC10076565 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1160018] [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: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and aims We aim to analyze the difference in quantitative features between culprit and non-culprit intracranial plaque without substantial stenosis using three-dimensional high-resolution vessel wall MRI (3D hr-vw-MRI). Methods The patients with cerebral ischemic symptoms of the unilateral anterior circulation were recruited who had non-stenotic intracranial atherosclerosis (<50%) confirmed by computed tomographic angiographic (CTA) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). All patients underwent 3D hr-vw MRI within 1 month after symptom onset. 3D hr-vw-MRI characteristics, including wall thickness, plaque burden, enhancement ratio, plaque volume and intraplaque hemorrhage, and histogram features were analyzed based on T2-, precontrast T1-, and post-contrast T1-weighted images. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to identify key determinates differentiating culprit and non-culprit plaques and to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results A total of 150 plaques were identified, of which 133 plaques (97 culprit and 36 non-culprit) were in the middle cerebral artery, three plaques (all culprit) were in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and 14 (11 culprit and three non-culprit) were in the internal carotid artery (ICA). Of all the quantitative parameters analyzed, plaque volume, maximum wall thickness, minimum wall thickness, plaque burden, enhancement ratio, coefficient of variation of the most stenotic site, enhancement ratio of whole culprit plaque in culprit plaques were significantly higher than those in non-culprit plaques. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that plaque volume [OR, 1.527 (95% CI, 1.231-1.894); P < 0.001] and enhancement ratio of whole plaque [OR, 1.095 (95% CI, 1.021-1.175); P = 0.011] were significantly associated with culprit plaque. The combination of the two features obtained a better diagnostic efficacy for culprit plaque with sensitivity and specificity (0.910 and 0.897, respectively) than each of the two parameters alone. Conclusion 3D hr-vw MRI features of intracranial atherosclerotic plaques provided potential values over prediction of ischemic stroke patients with non-stenotic arteries. The plaque volume and enhancement ratio of whole plaque of stenosis site were found to be effective predictive parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Tian
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhang Shi
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bing Xu
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Jia Peng
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xue-Feng Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shi-Yue Chen
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
- Shi-Yue Chen,
| | - Bing Tian
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Bing Tian,
| | - Jian-Ping Lu
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng-Wei Shao
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
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Combined Assessment of Elevated Plasma Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A 2 and Plaque Enhancement Improved Accuracy in the Risk of Acute Ischemic Stroke in Patients with Intracranial Artery Stenosis. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2021; 30:106103. [PMID: 34587576 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2021.106103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We evaluated the relationship between plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) concentration and plaque characteristics in patients with intracranial artery stenosis and their clinical relevance in acute ischemic stroke. METHODS Eighty-seven patients with intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (66 males, 21 females) were retrospectively enrolled. Plasma Lp-PLA2 concentration was measured, and vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VW-MRI) was used to determine intracranial vascular stenosis and plaque characteristics, including plaque enhancement, surface morphology, and T1 hyperintensity. Binary logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between Lp-PLA2 concentration and plaque characteristics of intracranial artery after adjusting for demographic and confounding factors and to assess their diagnostic efficacy for the risk of acute ischemic stroke. RESULTS After adjustment for demographic, medication and related lipid factors, Lp-PLA2 elevation was associated with plaque enhancement (odds ratio [OR]=12.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.51-64.82, P=0.002) and surface irregularity (OR=2.9, 95% CI 1.06-7.98, P=0.038). Both Lp-PLA2 elevation (OR=8.8, 95% CI 1.64-47.72, P=0.011) and plaque enhancement (OR=34.3, 95% CI 5.88-200.4, P=0.001) were associated with acute ischemic stroke. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve for Lp-PLA2 concentration and plaque enhancement combined in the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke was 0.884, significantly higher than that for Lp-PLA2 concentration (0.724) and plaque enhancement (0.794) alone. CONCLUSION Elevated Lp-PLA2 is associated with plaque enhancement and plaque surface irregularity. Combined assessment of Lp-PLA2 concentration and plaque enhancement is of greater diagnostic value for the risk of acute ischemic stroke in patients with intracranial artery stenosis.
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Characteristics of basilar artery atherosclerotic plaques in pontine infarctions: A high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging study. CEREBRAL CIRCULATION - COGNITION AND BEHAVIOR 2021; 2:100005. [PMID: 36324728 PMCID: PMC9616278 DOI: 10.1016/j.cccb.2021.100005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
This study used a 3.0T high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging to explore basilar artery plaque characteristics in patients suffering from acute isolated pontine infarction. The study also used plaque analysis software to calculate the properties of the plaques and to fully analyze and compare the differences between two types of pontine infarction. The result may account for the different prognosis associated with these two types of pontine infarction.
Objective This study used a 3.0T high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging approach to explore basilar artery plaque characteristics in patients suffering from acute isolated pontine infarction. Materials and methods 30 consecutive patients suffering from acute isolated pontine infarction were enrolled in this study and underwent examinations including high-resolution MRI assessment of the basilar artery within 7 days following infarction. Results The basilar artery plaque burden of 16 patients with paramedian pontine infarction was 0.26±0.085, while the reconstruction index and enhancement rate index values in these patients were 1.097±0.133 and 1.750±0.447, respectively. In the 14 patients suffering from deep pontine infarction, these three values were 0.21±0.055, 0.896±0.223, and 1.285±0.611, respectively.These values differed significantly when comparing patients suffering from paramedian pontine infarction to those suffering from deep pontine infarction. Conclusion This study suggests that the characteristics of basilar artery plaques differ between the two subtypes of pontine infarctions, which may account for the differences in prognosis associated with these two infarct subtypes.
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Jiao S, Huang J, Chen Y, Song Y, Gong T, Lu J, Guo T, Zhang J, Zhang C, Chen M. Impacts of Glycemic Control on Intracranial Plaque in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Vessel Wall MRI Study. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2020; 42:75-81. [PMID: 33272948 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a6878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The relationship between glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and intracranial atherosclerotic plaque features has remained understudied. This study aimed to investigate the association of type 2 diabetes mellitus and glycemic control with the characteristics of intracranial plaques using vessel wall MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS In total, 311 patients (217 [69.8%] men; mean age, 63.24 ± 11.44 years) with intracranial atherosclerotic plaques detected on vessel wall MR imaging were enrolled and divided into 3 groups according to type 2 diabetes mellitus and glycemic control statuses: the non-type 2 diabetes mellitus group, the type 2 diabetes mellitus with good glycemic control group, and the type 2 diabetes mellitus with poor glycemic control group. The imaging features of intracranial plaque were analyzed and compared among the groups. The clinical risk factors for atherosclerosis were also analyzed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS The plaque length and thickness were significantly higher in the type 2 diabetes mellitus with poor glycemic control group than in the non-type 2 diabetes mellitus group. The prevalence of strongly enhanced plaques was significantly higher in the type 2 diabetes mellitus with poor glycemic control group than in the non-type 2 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus with good glycemic control groups (92.9%, 63.4%, and 72.7%, respectively; P < .001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a significant association of poor glycemic control with the plaque length (OR = 1.966; 95% CI, 1.170-3.303; P = .011), plaque thickness (OR = 1.981; 95% CI, 1.174-3.340; P = .010), and strongly enhanced plaque (OR = 5.448; 95% CI, 2.385-12.444; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Poor glycemic control, compared with the history of diabetes, might have a greater impact on the burden and vulnerability of intracranial atherosclerotic plaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Jiao
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.J., J.H., Y.S., T. Guo, J.Z., C.Z., M.C.)
| | - J Huang
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.J., J.H., Y.S., T. Guo, J.Z., C.Z., M.C.)
| | | | - Y Song
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.J., J.H., Y.S., T. Guo, J.Z., C.Z., M.C.)
| | | | - J Lu
- Neurosurgery (J.L.), Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, P.R. China, Beijing, China
| | - T Guo
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.J., J.H., Y.S., T. Guo, J.Z., C.Z., M.C.)
| | - J Zhang
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.J., J.H., Y.S., T. Guo, J.Z., C.Z., M.C.)
| | - C Zhang
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.J., J.H., Y.S., T. Guo, J.Z., C.Z., M.C.)
| | - M Chen
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.J., J.H., Y.S., T. Guo, J.Z., C.Z., M.C.)
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Shao Q, Li Q, Wu Q, Li T, Li L, Chang K. Comparison of 3D T1-SPACE and DSA in evaluation of intracranial in-stent restenosis. Br J Radiol 2020; 94:20190950. [PMID: 33259233 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20190950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In-stent restenosis (ISR) after stenting for intracranial stenosis is a significant issue. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of the 3D T1-SPACE technique in the follow-up of patients after stent implantation. METHODS Fifteen patients with intracranial arterial stenosis were prospectively enrolled 6-8 months after stenting. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and 3D T1-SPACE imaging were performed to evaluate the degree of stenosis and the enhancement of the vessel wall. Bland-Altman plots were used to assess the agreement between the two imaging methods, and the Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated as a measure of the linear correlation. RESULTS Eight Enterprise stents and seven Wingspan stents were used in 15 patients. The follow-up DSA after 6-8 months showed that the degree of stenosis was 40% (range, 30-72%), and ISR occurred in 4 of 15 (26.7%) lesions. The degree of stenosis assessed using the 3D T1-SPACE imaging technique was 35% (range, 30-75%). All four patients with ISR demonstrated significant enhancement. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the two methods was 0.959 (p < 0.05), and the Bland-Altman plot showed that all data points were within the consistency limits ([Formula: see text] ± 1.96 s). CONCLUSION As a non-invasive imaging modality, 3D T1-SPACE showed great consistency with DSA in measuring the degree of stenosis after intracranial stenting. It may be used as an optional method for detecting ISR. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE This study evaluated the usefulness of 3D T1-SPACE technique in the follow-up of patients after stent implantation, which could be used as an optional and non-invasive method in detection of in-stent restenosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuji Shao
- Department of Cerebrovascular Disease, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Department of Radiology, Department of Cerebrovascular Disease, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qiaowei Wu
- Department of Cerebrovascular Disease, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Tianxiao Li
- Department of Cerebrovascular Disease, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Cerebrovascular Disease, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Kaitao Chang
- Department of Cerebrovascular Disease, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
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11
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Wu Y, Li F, Wang Y, Hu T, Xiao L. High-Resolution Vessel Wall Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Middle Cerebral Artery: Comparison of 3D CUBE T1-Weighted Sequence with and without Fat Suppression. Med Sci Monit 2020; 26:e928931. [PMID: 33159730 PMCID: PMC7657061 DOI: 10.12659/msm.928931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Fat suppression is an important technique in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Comprehensive and quantitative assessment of the influence of fat suppression (FS) on T1-weighted imaging of intracranial vessel wall imaging is needed. In this study, we compared the three-dimensional (3D) variable-flip-angle turbo-spin-echo (CUBE) T1-weighted sequence with and without FS to investigate the differences between the 2 sequences in imaging of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) vessel walls. Material/Methods A 3D CUBE T1-weighted sequence with and without FS by 3.0T MRI was used to obtain intracranial vessel wall images of 105 MCA stenosis patients. The image signal intensity, signal-to-noise ratio, and contrast-to-noise ratio were calculated and compared. Two observers evaluated the image quality of the 2 sequences twice, and interobserver and intraobserver consistency were determined. Differences between the 2 sequences in the area of lumen and plaque were compared. Results The signal intensity, signal-to-noise ratio, and contrast-to-noise ratio of the 3D CUBE T1-weighted sequence without FS were higher, whereas the noise level was lower. In terms of subjective scores, the 3D CUBE T1-weighted sequence without FS performed better. No significant difference was observed in the measurement of the vascular lumen area between the 2 sequences, although there were statistically significant differences in the measurement of plaque area (i.e., the measurement obtained with 3D CUBE T1-weighted sequence without FS was larger). Conclusions 3D CUBE T1-weighted sequence without FS performed better for MCA vessel walls imaging than 3D CUBE T1-weighted sequence with FS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yejun Wu
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, China Medical University, Shengyang, Liaoning, China (mainland)
| | - Fangbing Li
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, China Medical University, Shengyang, Liaoning, China (mainland)
| | - Yilin Wang
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China (mainland)
| | - Tianxiang Hu
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China (mainland)
| | - Liang Xiao
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China (mainland)
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12
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Song JW, Pavlou A, Burke MP, Shou H, Atsina KB, Xiao J, Loevner LA, Mankoff D, Fan Z, Kasner SE. Imaging endpoints of intracranial atherosclerosis using vessel wall MR imaging: a systematic review. Neuroradiology 2020; 63:847-856. [PMID: 33029735 DOI: 10.1007/s00234-020-02575-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The vessel wall MR imaging (VWI) literature was systematically reviewed to assess the criteria and measurement methods of VWI-related imaging endpoints for symptomatic intracranial plaque in patients with ischemic events. METHODS PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched up to October 2019. Two independent reviewers extracted data from 47 studies. A modified Guideline for Reporting Reliability and Agreement Studies was used to assess completeness of reporting. RESULTS The specific VWI-pulse sequence used to identify plaque was reported in 51% of studies. A VWI-based criterion to define plaque was reported in 38% of studies. A definition for culprit plaque was reported in 40% of studies. Frequently scored qualitative imaging endpoints were plaque quadrant (21%) and enhancement (21%). Frequently measured quantitative imaging endpoints were stenosis (19%), lumen area (15%), and remodeling index (14%). Reproducibility for all endpoints ranged from good to excellent (range: ICCT1 hyperintensity = 0.451 to ICCstenosis = 0.983). However, rater specialty and years of experience varied among studies. CONCLUSIONS Investigators are using different criteria to identify and measure VWI-imaging endpoints for culprit intracranial plaque. Early awareness of these differences to address methods of acquisition and measurement will help focus research resources and efforts in technique optimization and measurement reproducibility. Consensual definitions to detect plaque will be important to develop automatic lesion detection tools particularly in the era of radiomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae W Song
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Athanasios Pavlou
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Morgan P Burke
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Haochang Shou
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kofi-Buaku Atsina
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jiayu Xiao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Laurie A Loevner
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - David Mankoff
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Zhaoyang Fan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Scott E Kasner
- Department of Neurology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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13
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Huang J, Jiao S, Song Y, Chen Y, Zhang J, Zhang C, Gong T, Chen M. Association between type 2 diabetes mellitus, especially recently uncontrolled glycemia, and intracranial plaque characteristics: A high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging study. J Diabetes Investig 2020; 11:1278-1284. [PMID: 32100945 PMCID: PMC7477510 DOI: 10.1111/jdi.13239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS/INTRODUCTION Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a specific risk factor for intracranial atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus, especially uncontrolled glycemia, and intracranial plaque characteristics using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 263 patients (182 men; mean age 62.6 ± 11.5 years) with intracranial atherosclerotic plaques detected on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging from December 2017 to March 2019 were included in this study. Patients were divided into different groups: (i) patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus; (ii) diabetes patients with uncontrolled glycemia (glycated hemoglobin level ≥7.0%) and controlled glycemia; and (iii), diabetes patients with diabetes duration of <5, 5-10 and >10 years. Comparisons of plaque features between groups were made, respectively. RESULTS Type 2 diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in 118 patients (44.9%). Diabetes patients had a significantly greater prevalence of enhanced plaque, greater maximum plaque length, maximum wall thickness and more severe luminal stenosis than non-diabetes patients. Compared with diabetes patients with controlled glycemia, those with uncontrolled glycemia had a significantly greater prevalence of enhanced plaque and greater maximum plaque length (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in plaque features among patients with different durations of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Uncontrolled glycemia was an independent factor for plaque enhancement after adjustment for potential confounding factors (odds ratio 5.690; 95% confidence interval 1.748-18.526; P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS Type 2 diabetes mellitus is closely related to intracranial plaque enhancement and burden. Recently uncontrolled glycemia might play an important role in the development of enhanced plaque.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Huang
- Department of RadiologyNational Center of GerontologyBeijing HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Sheng Jiao
- Department of RadiologyNational Center of GerontologyBeijing HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Yan Song
- Department of RadiologyNational Center of GerontologyBeijing HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Yuhui Chen
- Department of NeurologyNational Center of GerontologyBeijing HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Jintao Zhang
- Department of RadiologyNational Center of GerontologyBeijing HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Chen Zhang
- Department of RadiologyNational Center of GerontologyBeijing HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Tao Gong
- Department of NeurologyNational Center of GerontologyBeijing HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Min Chen
- Department of RadiologyNational Center of GerontologyBeijing HospitalBeijingChina
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14
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Woo NE, Na HK, Heo JH, Nam HS, Choi JK, Ahn SS, Choi HS, Lee SK, Lee HS, Cha J, Kim YD. Factors for Enhancement of Intracranial Atherosclerosis in High Resolution Vessel Wall MRI in Ischemic Stroke Patients. Front Neurol 2020; 11:580. [PMID: 32676051 PMCID: PMC7333774 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: High resolution vessel wall MRI (VW-MRI) has enabled to characterize intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS). We studied to identify the factors for enhancement of ICAS in VW-MRI in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods: Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke or TIA who underwent VW-MRI between January 2017 and December 2017 were included. Enhancement on VW-MRI was defined as an increase in intensity on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted sequence. We compared the clinical and the radiologic findings between patients with wall enhancement and those without wall enhancement. Results: Of the 48 patients with ICAS, 28 patients revealed enhancement on VW-MRI. Patients with enhancement were more likely to have severe stenotic lesions and higher levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density cholesterol, Apo (b), and Apo (b)/Apo (a) lipoprotein ratio (p < 0.05). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that total cholesterol (OR: 5.378, 95% CI, 1.779-16.263), triglycerides (OR: 3.362, 95% CI, 1.008-11.209), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR: 4.226, 95% CI, 1.264-14.126), Apo (b) lipoprotein (OR: 3639.641, 95% CI, 17.854-741954.943) levels, and Apo (b)/Apo (a) lipoprotein ratio (OR, 65.514; 95% CI, 1.131-3680.239) were independently associated with enhancement of ICAS. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol and Apo (a) lipoprotein levels were not significantly different between the patients with wall enhancement and those without wall enhancement. Conclusions: The presence and severity of enhancement of ICAS was significantly associated with dyslipidemic conditions. These results suggest that strict lipid modification should be achieved for the management of ICAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na-Eun Woo
- Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Han Kyu Na
- Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ji Hoe Heo
- Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyo Suk Nam
- Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jin Kyo Choi
- Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sung Soo Ahn
- Department of Radiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyun Seok Choi
- Department of Radiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seung-Koo Lee
- Department of Radiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hye Sun Lee
- Biostatistics Collaboration Unit, Department of Research Affairs, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jihoon Cha
- Department of Radiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Young Dae Kim
- Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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15
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Ran Y, Wang Y, Zhu M, Wu X, Malhotra A, Lei X, Zhang F, Wang X, Xie S, Zhou J, Zhu J, Cheng J, Zhu C. Higher Plaque Burden of Middle Cerebral Artery Is Associated With Recurrent Ischemic Stroke: A Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study. Stroke 2019; 51:659-662. [PMID: 31856694 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.119.028405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Background and Purpose- This study aims to investigate the association between the characteristics of atherosclerotic plaques of middle cerebral artery and recurrent ischemic stroke using magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging. Methods- One hundred and five patients with ischemic stroke attributed to middle cerebral artery plaque underwent high-resolution black-blood magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging. They were divided into group 1, with the first episode of acute stroke (imaging within 4 weeks of stroke, n=44); group 2, with recurrent acute stroke (n=29); and group 3, with chronic stroke (imaging after 3 months of stroke, n=32). Plaque characteristics including plaque area, plaque burden, contrast-enhancement ratio, eccentricity, and degree of stenosis were measured and compared across 3 groups. Association between plaque characteristics and recurrent strokes was investigated by multivariate analysis. Results- Plaque burden was significantly greater in recurrent stroke group than the other 2 groups (median: group 2, 82.7%, versus group 1, 76.3%, and group 3, 73.4%; P=0.001). Patients with acute stroke had higher enhancement ratio than patients with chronic stroke (median: group 1, 1.59, and group 2, 1.90, versus group 3, 1.33; P=0.014). Comparing to first-onset acute stroke patients, recurrent stroke patients were older, more likely with female sex and hypertension, and had higher plaque burden. After adjustment of clinical factors, plaque burden was the only independent imaging feature associated with recurrent stroke (odds ratio, 2.26, per 10% increase [95% CI, 1.03-4.96]; P=0.042). Conclusions- Higher plaque burden of middle cerebral artery identified on magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging is independently associated with recurrent ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuncai Ran
- From the Department of Magnetic Resonance (Y.R., X.L., F.Z., X. Wang, S.X., J. Zhou, J.C.), First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China
| | - Yuting Wang
- Department of Radiology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu (Y.W.).,Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco (Y.W., C.Z.)
| | - Ming Zhu
- Interventional Department (M.Z.), First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China
| | - Xiao Wu
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine and Yale University, New Haven, CT (X. Wu, A.M.)
| | - Ajay Malhotra
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine and Yale University, New Haven, CT (X. Wu, A.M.)
| | - Xiaowen Lei
- From the Department of Magnetic Resonance (Y.R., X.L., F.Z., X. Wang, S.X., J. Zhou, J.C.), First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China
| | - Feifei Zhang
- From the Department of Magnetic Resonance (Y.R., X.L., F.Z., X. Wang, S.X., J. Zhou, J.C.), First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- From the Department of Magnetic Resonance (Y.R., X.L., F.Z., X. Wang, S.X., J. Zhou, J.C.), First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China
| | - Shanshan Xie
- From the Department of Magnetic Resonance (Y.R., X.L., F.Z., X. Wang, S.X., J. Zhou, J.C.), First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- From the Department of Magnetic Resonance (Y.R., X.L., F.Z., X. Wang, S.X., J. Zhou, J.C.), First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China
| | - Jinxia Zhu
- MR Collaboration, Siemens Healthcare, Ltd, Beijing, China (J. Zhu)
| | - Jingliang Cheng
- From the Department of Magnetic Resonance (Y.R., X.L., F.Z., X. Wang, S.X., J. Zhou, J.C.), First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China
| | - Chengcheng Zhu
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco (Y.W., C.Z.)
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16
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Culprit intracranial plaque without substantial stenosis in acute ischemic stroke on vessel wall MRI: A systematic review. Atherosclerosis 2019; 287:112-121. [PMID: 31254918 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2019.06.907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Intracranial atherosclerotic plaque is associated with ischemic strokes without substantial stenosis, and needs better characterization. We aim to investigate the clinical significance of intracranial plaque without substantial stenosis by high resolution vessel wall MRI (vwMRI) through a systematic review of existing studies. METHODS Studies investigating intracranial arterial atherosclerotic plaques without substantial stenosis in acute ischemic stroke patients using vwMRI were systematically identified by searching the PubMed and Medline database and article reference lists. Study characteristics were recorded, the methodological quality of eligible studies was assessed, relevant clinical data were extracted, and collective data was analyzed. RESULTS Twenty-one studies were identified as eligible. 463 patients were included without stenosis of the intracranial arteries, and 651 patients were included with stenosis <50%. The prevalence of intracranial plaque revealed by vwMRI among acute/subacute ischemic stroke patients with non-stenotic Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) was 50.6% (95% confidence interval (CI), 46.1%-55.1%). The prevalence of <50% MRA stenotic culprit plaque among acute/subacute ischemic stroke patients with a clinical diagnosis of intracranial atherosclerosis was 51.2% (95% CI, 38.4%-64.0%). Plaques features, including wall enhancement, positive remodeling, intraplaque hemorrhage, plaque location and eccentricity, were associated with acute stroke, progressive motor deficits and unfavorable overall functional outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Intracranial high-risk plaque with zero or mild degree of stenosis is more prevalent than previously acknowledged, and is associated with ischemic stroke and unfavorable outcome. VwMRI can identify the high-risk plaque features, which may act as a promising tool to better risk stratify these patients.
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