Association between Antiplatelet Therapy and Changes in Intraplaque Hemorrhage in Patients with Mild to Moderate Symptomatic Carotid Stenosis: A Longitudinal MRI Study

Abstract

Plain Language SummaryCarotid artery narrowing due to an atherosclerotic plaque is responsible for around 20% of stroke. Intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) predicts stroke. Antiplatelet agents are often given to patients who have had a stroke to prevent further cardiovascular events. A previous study found an association between previous antiplatelet use and IPH at a specific point in time. In this study, researchers investigated whether starting antiplatelet therapy after a stroke or continuing to use antiplatelets had any effect on IPH over a 2-year period.The study included patients with <70% carotid narrowing who had a carotid plaque MRI at the baseline and after 2 years to determine the presence and volume of IPH. Patients were categorized into new users (starting antiplatelet therapy following the stroke) and continued users (already using antiplatelet therapy before the stroke). The presence and the volume change of IPH over 2 years were investigated in each group. The study found that IPH was more present at the baseline when patients used antiplatelet agents before the stroke. However, new antiplatelet use after the stroke did not lead to new IPH or an increase in IPH volume over the subsequent 2 years. There were no significant associations between the new antiplatelet use and newly developed IPH or IPH volume progression. Therefore, while the baseline association between IPH and previous antiplatelet therapy was confirmed in this larger cohort, starting antiplatelet therapy after a stroke did not increase the risk of new IPH or progression of IPH volume over the subsequent 2 years.