Severe Carotid Stenosis Research Articles

Curve-centered plaques raise the risk of peri-operative neurological and cardiovascular complications during angioplasty and stenting for severe carotid stenosis.

Carotid artery stenting is an alternative interventional treatment to carotid endarterectomy. However, preprocedural considerations and anatomical risk factor analyses for carotid artery stenting are currently insufficient. Therefore, we investigated the high-risk anatomical appearance of carotid artery stenting from the neurointerventionist perspective to predict periprocedural complications. We retrospectively reviewed patients with carotid stenosis who underwent carotid artery stenting at a comprehensive stroke center between January 2012 and December 2021. We compared the demographic characteristics, medical history, and anatomical appearance of the stenotic segment in patients with and without complications. We analyzed a total of 148 patients (64 women [43.2%]; median age, 73.0 [interquartile range, 65.5-79.0]). Complications occurred in 39 of the 148 patients, primarily minor and transient. Of baseline or procedural characteristics, a high initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (p = 0.04), symptomatic stenosis (p = 0.01), and curve-centered plaque of the proximal ICA (p = 0.01) were significantly associated with carotid artery stenting complications in unadjusted analysis. Curve-centered plaque remained an independent risk factor for carotid artery stenting complications after adjustment (odds ratio 2.23[1.02-4.88], p = 0.04). High-risk vascular anatomical features, such as curve-centered plaque, are associated with a high frequency of periprocedural complications of carotid artery stenting. Tailored patient selection for carotid stenosis is crucial to prevent complications. Patients with curve-centered plaque should consider alternative treatment options such as carotid endarterectomy to achieve optimal clinical results.

Free-Cell Area Impact on Stroke Prevention in Asymptomatic Patients Undergoing Carotid Artery Stenting: The "Carotid Artery sTenting And CeLl-area Impact on Stroke and Major Adverse events" (CATACLISMA) Multicenter Registry.

The study investigated the association between cell-stent area and cerebrovascular events incidence in asymptomatic patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS). This is an observational, retrospective, multicenter, cohort study. Between 2012 and 2022, all patients undergoing primary CAS for severe asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis were evaluated. Three groups were defined on the basis of the cell area (open cell, OC; closed cell, CC; double layer, DL). Periprocedural primary outcomes were 30-day stroke, mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and major adverse event (MAE, stroke/mortality composite outcome) rates. Follow-up primary outcomes included overall survival, stroke-free survival (SFS), freedom from ipsilateral stroke (FFiS), and freedom from stroke-related mortality (FF-SRM). Data were analyzed at short-term (1 year) and mid-term (2.5 years) period. A total of 1096 CAS were considered (787 men, 71.8%, median age = 74 years). Technical success was achieved in 99.5% procedures. Periprocedural 30-day stroke rate was 1.5% (OC: 1.1%, CC: 2.3%, DL: 1%, p=0.27), mortality was 0.7% (OC: 1.1%, CC: 0.3%, DL: 0.5%, p=0.35), and no MI was recorded. The MAE rate was 2.1% (OC: 2%, CC: 2.6%, DL: 1.5%, p=0.66). Median follow-up was 46 months. At 1 and 2.5 years, estimated overall survival was 96.1% and 91% (p=0.41), SFS was 99.1% and 98.2% (p=0.007, CC stroke rates 2.9% and 4.2% at timepoints), FFiS was 99.4% and 99% (p=0.014, CC FFiS rates 1.7% and 2.6% at timepoints) and FF-SRM was 99.5% and 99% (p=0.28). During follow-up, no stroke events occurred in DL group. CC design showed higher rates of any (4.2%) and ipsilateral stroke (2.6%) within 2.5 years. In asymptomatic patients undergoing CAS, the contemporary overall stroke incidence is 1.5%. No statistical differences were observed in terms of 30-day stroke incidence among groups. The closed free-cell area showed higher rates of any and ipsilateral stroke within 2.5 years. The DL stents may offer the best available performances in terms of mid-term stroke prevention. The study analyzed the contemporary results of carotid artery stenting (CAS) focusing on the impact of cell-stent area on peri- and post-operative cerebrovascular events in a multicenter real-world experience. In asymptomatic patients undergoing CAS the contemporary overall stroke incidence is 1.5%. No statistical differences were observed in terms of 30-day stroke incidence among groups. The closed free-cell area showed higher rates of any and ipsilateral stroke within 2.5 years. DL stents may offer the best available performances in terms of mid-term stroke prevention.

Staged angioplasty in 2 patients with severe carotid artery stenosis: A case report and literature review.

Cerebral infarction is a common ischemic cerebrovascular disease, associated with high rates of morbidity, disability, and recurrence, that can seriously affect patient physical and mental health, as well as quality of life. Carotid artery stenosis is an independent risk factor of cerebral infarction. Following rapid developments in interventional technology and materials science, carotid artery stenting has arisen an important treatment option for carotid artery stenosis. However, surgery is associated with complications, such as postoperative hyperperfusion syndrome, which poses a serious threat to the life and health of patients. Staged angioplasty (SAP), that is, one-time revascularization of the carotid artery stenting, is divided into 2 stages. This method reduces the occurrence of hyperperfusion syndrome after stenting by increasing the ipsilateral cerebral blood flow in stages and gradually increasing the cerebral perfusion pressure. Herein, we present 2 cases of elderly patients with severe carotid artery stenosis who underwent SAP to prevent hyperperfusion syndrome. The final diagnosis was based on cervical vascular color Doppler ultrasonography, cervical vascular magnetic resonance angiography, and cerebral vascular digital subtraction angiography. Both patients with severe carotid artery stenosis underwent a staged intravascular intervention. Both patients were followed up for 1 year, with neither developing any new cerebral infarction or recurrent stent restenosis. When treating SAP, it is crucial to consider that patients with unstable carotid plaques may not be suitable for staging. Additionally, during phase II carotid stenting, it is important to assess any changes in the arterial morphology and select the appropriate device accordingly.

Subacute in-stent thrombosis after carotid artery stenting in a patient with gene polymorphisms associated with aspirin and clopidogrel resistance: a case report

BackgroundCarotid artery stenting (CAS) is a key treatment option for moderate to severe carotid artery stenosis. Carotid stent thrombosis (CST), a rare complication of CAS, has gained significant attention because of its catastrophic nature. More evidences are needed to guide the diagnosis and treatment of CST.Case presentationThis study reports a rare case of sub-acute CST following CAS in a 50-year-old male patient who had experienced repeated cerebrovascular events on the premise of taking antiplatelet drugs. He also suffered an occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) in the M2 segment, likely caused by an embolus detached from the stent thrombus. The cause of CST in this patient was presumed to be dual antiplatelet resistance (AR), as indicated by genetic testing. After treated with guide catheter-directed thrombolysis, thrombus aspiration, and a second round of thrombolysis, his in-stent thrombus was basically cleared. His M2 occlusion was resolved by mechanical thrombectomy using the Solitaire FR/Stent with Intermediate Catheter Assisting technique. The patient recovered well after replacement of antiplatelet drugs, and no new thromboembolic event occurred during the 13-month follow-up period.ConclusionsThe occurrence rate of AR-related CST may be underestimated as the cause of majority CST cases remains unclear. Implementation of genetic test for aspirin and clopidogrel resistance may be helpful to find the possible cause of CST and to avoid future repeated cerebrovascular events by replacement of antiplatelet drugs.

Outcomes of Carotid Artery Stenting and Endarterectomy in Patients with Prior Contralateral Carotid Revascularization

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) are available treatment options for stroke prevention in individuals with severe carotid stenosis. This study aims to compare the early postoperative outcomes in patients who underwent CEA or CAS after prior contralateral carotid revascularization. We conducted a retrospective review of the Society of Vascular Surgery (SVS) Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) database, identifying patients who had prior carotid artery revascularization followed by a contralateral CEA or CAS between 2017 and 2023. Based on the sequence of the procedures performed, patients were categorized into four groups: 1) patients who had a prior unilateral CEA followed by a contralateral CEA (CEA-CEA); 2) patients who had a prior unilateral CAS followed by a contralateral CEA (CAS-CEA); 3) patients had a prior unilateral CAS followed by a contralateral CAS (CAS-CAS); and 4) patients had a prior unilateral CEA followed by a contralateral CAS (CEA-CAS). Univariate analysis (Pearson χ 2, Wilcoxon rank sum test) and multivariate logistic regression were employed to assess length of stay, rates of in-hospital stroke, myocardial infarction, new-onset arrhythmia, and 30-day mortality. A total of 20,761 patients with a history of prior unilateral carotid revascularization procedures were identified, of which 12,788 underwent contralateral CEA and another 7,973 underwent contralateral CAS. Compared to the CAS-CAS group, patients who underwent CEA followed by contralateral CAS (CEA-CAS group) were associated with higher rates of postoperative in-hospital stroke (1.8% vs. 1%, P = 0.003), new-onset arrhythmia (2% vs. 1.2%, P=0.006), and 30-day mortality (1.3% vs. 0.8%, P = 0.04). On multivariate analysis, preoperative use of statins and beta-blockers was associated with lower odds of in-hospital stroke (OR 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.29 - 0.69; P = 0.0002) and new-onset arrhythmia (OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.49 - 0.9; P = 0.01), respectively, after CAS. There were no significant differences in outcomes for CEA-CEA and CAS-CEA groups. Patients with prior CEA undergoing contralateral CAS had higher rates of in-hospital stroke, new-onset arrhythmia, and 30-day mortality. Beta-blockers may reduce postoperative arrhythmia rates in these patients, and established regimens should not be discontinued in the perioperative period; however, further prospective studies are needed to confirm this finding. Optimized medical treatment and appropriate imaging follow-up remain crucial for improvement outcomes.

Early Improvement in Interstitial Fluid Flow in Patients With Severe Carotid Stenosis After Angioplasty and Stenting.

This study aimed to investigate early changes in interstitial fluid (ISF) flow in patients with severe carotid stenosis after carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS). We prospectively recruited participants with carotid stenosis ≥80% undergoing CAS at our institute between October 2019 and March 2023. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were performed 3 days before CAS. MRI with DTI and MMSE were conducted within 24 hours and 2 months after CAS, respectively. The diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index was calculated from the DTI data to determine the ISF status. Increments were defined as the ratio of the difference between post- and preprocedural values to preprocedural values. In total, 102 participants (age: 67.1±8.9 years; stenosis: 89.5%±5.7%) with longitudinal data were evaluated. The DTI-ALPS index increased after CAS (0.85±0.15; 0.85 [0.22] vs. 0.86±0.14; 0.86 [0.21]; P=0.022), as did the MMSE score (25.9±3.7; 24.0 [4.0] vs. 26.9±3.4; 26.0 [3.0]; P<0.001). Positive correlations between increments in the DTI-ALPS index and MMSE score were found in all patients (rs=0.468; P<0.001). An increased 24-hour post-CAS DTI-ALPS index suggests early improvement in ISF flow efficiency. The positive correlation between the 24-hour DTI-ALPS index and 2-month MMSE score increments suggests that early ISF flow improvement may contribute to long-term cognitive improvement after CAS.

Periprocedural clinical outcomes of stenting and endarterectomy in patients with carotid artery stenosis

Purpose: To identify the chief pathological cause of extracranial cerebrovascular disease, which is atherosclerosis, we analyzed and compared the early and 6-month morbidity and mortality rates of patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) for carotid artery stenosis. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively included patients who had undergone surgical endarterectomy and endovascular carotid stent implantation for carotid artery stenosis between April 2019 and August 2022. We evaluated neurological examinations, routine blood tests, neurological and systemic complications, mortality rates, and follow-up colour Doppler ultrasonography 6 months post-discharge. Results: The study included a total of 300 patients, with 52.7% (n = 158) undergoing CEA and 47.3% (n = 142) undergoing endovascular stent implantation (CAS). The patients’ average ages were 66±8 years in the CEA group and 70±7.4 years in the CAS group, suggesting that those undergoing CAS were generally older. Notably, there were significantly more instances of congestive heart failure and a history of cerebrovascular disease within the CAS group compared to the CEA group. However, no significant difference was observed in the rates of postprocedural complications. Furthermore, there were no cases of mortality reported in either group. Conclusion: The preferred method for treating severe carotid artery stenosis should be determined by considering patient characteristics and preferences, as well as the complication rates in the centre.

Prediction of Severe Baseline Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis and Subsequent Risk of Stroke and Cardiovascular Disease.

Risk models to identify patients at high risk of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (ACAS) can help in selecting patients for screening, but long-term outcomes in these patients are unknown. We assessed the diagnostic and prognostic value of the previously published Prevalence of ACAS (PACAS) risk model to detect ACAS at baseline and to predict subsequent risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease (CVD) during follow-up. We validated the discrimination and calibration of the PACAS risk model to detect severe (≥70% narrowing) ACAS with patients from the Reduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health registry. We subsequently calculated the incidence rates of stroke and CVD (fatal and nonfatal stroke or myocardial infarction or vascular death) during follow-up in 4 risk groups (low, medium, high, and very high, corresponding to sum scores of ≤9, 10-13, 14-17, and ≥18, respectively). Among 26 384 patients, aged between 45 and 80 years, without prior carotid procedures, 1662 (6.3%) had severe baseline ACAS. During ≈70 000 patient-years of follow-up, 1124 strokes and 2484 CVD events occurred. Discrimination of the PACAS model was 0.67 (95% CI, 0.65-0.68), and calibration showed adequate concordance between predicted and observed risks of severe baseline ACAS after recalibration. Significantly higher incidence rates of stroke (Ptrend<0.011) and CVD (Ptrend<0.0001) during follow-up were found with increasing PACAS risk groups. Among patients with high PACAS sum score of ≥14 (corresponding to 27.7% of all patients), severe baseline ACAS prevalence was 11.4%. In addition, 56.6% of incident strokes and 64.9% of incident CVD events occurred in this group. The PACAS risk model can reliably identify patients at high risk of severe baseline ACAS. Incidence rates of stroke and CVD during follow-up were significantly higher in patients with high PACAS sum scores. Selective screening of patients with high PACAS sum scores may help to prevent future stroke or CVD.

Sex and outcomes after stenting and endarterectomy in asymptomatic severe carotid stenosis patients

ObjectivesTo determine if sex was an effect modifier in a pooled analysis of asymptomatic patients from CREST and ACT I. Materials and MethodsWe analyzed data from 2544 patients aged <80 with ≥70 % asymptomatic carotid stenosis randomized to CAS or CEA (nCREST = 1091; nACT-1 = 1453). The pre-specified primary endpoint in both trials was any stroke, myocardial infarction or death during the peri-procedural period, or ipsilateral stroke within 4 years of randomization. The secondary endpoint was any stroke or death during the peri-procedural period, or ipsilateral stroke within 4 years of randomization. ResultsThere was no significant difference in the frequency of events for men or women between CAS and CEA for the primary or secondary endpoints. When assessing for an interaction of sex and risks between procedures, the treatment-by-sex interaction was not significant for either primary or secondary endpoints in the four-year period or the peri-procedural period. However, women had significantly fewer post-procedural events (ipsilateral stroke) with CAS than CEA (HR = 0.33, 95 % CI: 0.09–1.18) compared to men (HR = 2.09, 95 % CI: 0.78–5.61), p = 0.02 for interaction. ConclusionsIn this large, pooled analysis of asymptomatic patients comparing CAS to CEA, sex did not act as an effect modifier of treatment differences in the four-year primary stroke-MI-or-death endpoint or the secondary stroke-or-death endpoint. However, during the post-procedural period men treated with CAS were at higher risk than their female counterparts.

Off versus on pump myocardial revascularization in patients with severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis.

Coronary artery disease is a global cause of morbidity and mortality, often managed by coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study addresses a critical decision-making dilemma in CABG procedures for patients with severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis, comparing off-pump and on-pump techniques. We conducted a retrospective single-center analysis, employing propensity scored matched-pair methodology to compare perioperative outcomes in patients with asymptomatic severe carotid stenosis undergoing off-pump or on-pump CABG. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of perioperative stroke. Secondary endpoints included postoperative delirium, intrahospital mortality, intensive care unit stay, length of hospitalization and long-term survival. The study involved 243 patients with asymptomatic severe carotid stenosis operated between July 2009 and October 2018, subsequently propensity score matched into two groups of 78 patients each (off-pump and on-pump). The incidence of perioperative stroke was significantly higher in the On-Pump group compared to the off-pump group (10.3% vs. 1.3%, P=0.03). However, secondary endpoints, such as intrahospital mortality and length of hospitalization, showed no significant differences between the two groups. Long-term survival rates were also comparable. Our findings indicate that off-pump CABG significantly reduces the risk of perioperative stroke in patients with severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis compared to on-pump CABG, without compromising long-term outcomes. These results support the preference for off-pump CABG in this high-risk patient population, highlighting the need for tailored surgical approaches based on individual patient risk profiles.

Management of Severe Bilateral Symptomatic Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis: Case Report and Literature Review.

Multiple strategies for tandem severe carotid artery stenosis are reported: bilateral carotid artery endarterectomy (CEA), bilateral carotid artery stenting (CAS), and hybrid procedures (CEA and CAS). The management is controversial, considering the reported high risk of periprocedural stroke, hemodynamic distress, and cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome. We present the case of a 64-year-old patient with severe symptomatic bilateral internal carotid artery stenosis (95% stenosis on the left internal carotid artery with recent ipsilateral watershed anterior cerebral artery-medial cerebral artery (ACA-MCA) and medial cerebral artery-posterior cerebral artery (MCA-PCA) ischemic strokes and 90% stenosis on the right internal carotid artery with chronic ipsilateral frontal ischemic stroke) managed successfully with staged CEA within a 3-day interval. The patient had a history of coronary angioplasty and stenting. Strategies for brain protection included shunt placement after the evaluation of carotid stump pressure, internal carotid backflow, and near-infrared spectroscopy. A collagen and silver-coated polyester patch was used to complete the endarterectomy using a 6.0 polypropylene continuous suture in both instances. Management also included neurological consults after extubation, dual antiplatelet therapy, head CT between the two surgeries, myocardial ischemia monitoring, and general anesthesia. Staged CEA with a small time interval between surgeries can be an option to treat tandem symptomatic carotid artery stenosis in highly selected patients. The decision should be tailored according to the patient's characteristics and should also be made by a cardiology specialist, a neurology specialist, and an anesthesia and intensive care physician.

Risk prediction of postoperative permanent stroke in acute type A aortic dissection patients with severe common carotid artery stenosis using brain CT perfusion

Rationale and objectivesTo explore the feasibility and predictive utility for neurological outcomes of brain computed tomography perfusion (CTP) for surgically treated acute type A aortic dissection patients with severe common carotid artery stenosis. Materials and methodsConsecutive acute type A aortic dissection patients with severe common carotid artery stenosis undergoing preoperative brain computed tomography perfusion and surgery at our center were examined in retrospect. Brain perfusion was assessed using parameters including cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, mean transmit time, time to maximum, penumbra volume and infarct core volume. Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were performed to identify clinical and imaging predictors associated with postoperative permanent stroke. ResultsOut of 44 patients included, 19 patients (43.2 %) presented with postoperative permanent stroke. Univariable analysis revealed that internal carotid artery dissection, cerebral blood flow of the affected side, cerebral blood volume of the affected side, and penumbra volume were implicated in postoperative permanent stroke. Multivariable analysis further showed that cerebral blood flow of the affected side was an independent indicator of a permanent stroke following surgery (odds ratio: 0.820, 95 % confidence interval: 0.684–0.982; p = 0.012). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.867 (95 % confidence interval: 0.764–0.970), and the optimal cut-off value was 45.6mL/100 mL/min. ConclusionCerebral blood flow of the affected side was an independent indicator of permanent stroke following surgery in acute type A aortic dissection patients with severe common carotid artery stenosis. Brain CTP could be a helpful modality for quantitative evaluation of cerebral malperfusion and neurological prognostication.

Diagnostic accuracy of carotid plaque magnetic resonance imaging compared to histopathology in symptomatic carotid artery stenosis

IntroductionVulnerable plaques have been shown to predict ipsilateral cerebral ischemic events and identifying them leads to appropriate secondary stroke prevention strategies. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of MR carotid plaque imaging in identifying plaque vulnerability when compared with histopathological findings in patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA). MethodsA prospective cohort of forty-five consecutive patients with moderate to severe symptomatic carotid stenosis who underwent CEA at a tertiary Indian hospital had 3 T MRI plaque imaging with multi-parametric protocol between November 2021 and December 2022. Images were analyzed by a vascular radiologist blinded to histopathological data. High-risk plaque characteristics such as lipid rich necrotic core (LRNC), intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH), thin fibrous cap and ulceration were assessed and correlated with histopathological findings as per American Heart Association (AHA) classification using Cohen’s kappa statistics to obtain diagnostic accuracies. ResultsOf the 45 patients, 38(84 %) were males. The mean age was 65 ± 7.7 years and mean duration to CEA from the most recent event was 57 days (57 ± 46 days). A significant correlation between MR plaque imaging and histopathology was noted for IPH (sensitivity-91 %, specificity-86 %, κ = 0.774, p < 0.001), LRNC (sensitivity-92.1 %, specificity-85.7 %, κ = 0.697, p < 0.001), and plaque ulceration (sensitivity-84.6 %, specificity-78.1 %, κ = 0.563, p < 0.001). MRI had an overall sensitivity and specificity of 92.3 % and 84.2 % respectively (κ = 0.77, p < 0.001) in discriminating high risk plaques. ConclusionMR plaque imaging shows a very good correlation with histopathology and can identify unstable high-risk plaques with high accuracy. This may have implication in selection of patients for carotid revascularization in symptomatic carotid stenosis.

Detecting elevated left ventricular end diastolic pressure from simultaneously measured femoral pressure waveform and electrocardiogram

Objective. Instantaneous, non-invasive evaluation of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) would have significant value in the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure. A new approach called cardiac triangle mapping (CTM) has been recently proposed, which can provide a non-invasive estimate of LVEDP. We hypothesized that a hybrid machine-learning (ML) method based on CTM can instantaneously identify an elevated LVEDP using simultaneously measured femoral pressure waveform and electrocardiogram (ECG). Approach. We studied 46 patients (Age: 39–90 (66.4 ± 9.9), BMI: 20.2–36.8 (27.6 ± 4.1), 12 females) scheduled for clinical left heart catheterizations or coronary angiograms at University of Southern California Keck Medical Center. Exclusion criteria included severe mitral/aortic valve disease; severe carotid stenosis; aortic abnormalities; ventricular paced rhythm; left bundle branch and anterior fascicular blocks; interventricular conduction delay; and atrial fibrillation. Invasive LVEDP and pressure waveforms at the iliac bifurcation were measured using transducer-tipped Millar catheters with simultaneous ECG. LVEDP range was 9.3–40.5 mmHg. LVEDP = 18 mmHg was used as cutoff. Random forest (RF) classifiers were trained using data from 36 patients and blindly tested on 10 patients. Main results. Our proposed ML classifier models accurately predict true LVEDP classes using appropriate physics-based features, where the most accurate demonstrates 100.0% (elevated) and 80.0% (normal) success in predicting true LVEDP classes on blind data. Significance. We demonstrated that physics-based ML models can instantaneously classify LVEDP using information from femoral waveforms and ECGs. Although an invasive validation, the required ML inputs can be potentially obtained non-invasively.

Factors Associated with High-Risk Plaque Characteristics Among Patients with Medium to Severe Carotid Artery Stenosis

ObjectiveThere has been a large discussion in literature regarding the proper management of asymptomatic patients with significant carotid artery stenosis (CAS). This study aims to identify potential risk factors associated with high-risk carotid plaques. MethodsThis is a retrospective study based on a prospective database. Eligible patients had medium to severe symptomatic or asymptomatic carotid stenosis (≥50%, NASCET criteria). This study will analyze patients recruited by our institution as part of the multicenter TAXINOMISIS project (NCT03495830). According to protocol, all patients underwent a colored Duplex ultrasound examination and a magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) at baseline. Carotid plaques were classified according to Gray-Weale ultrasonographic criteria (Types I-V). Main outcomes included the occurrence of symptoms, the high/low echogenicity of the plaque, the existence of intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) and the existence of lipidic/necrotic core. Secondary, risk factors associated with the aforementioned outcomes were evaluated. ResultsA total of 62 patients (mean age: 68.7+/-9.3 years, 66.1% males, 24.2% symptomatic) were recruited by our department. Mean carotid stenosis was 70.81%±13.53%. In multivariate regression analysis, CRP > 2mg/l was strongly associated with symptomatic stenosis (OR=9.92 [1.12-88.178]; P=0.039), and low HDL levels (<1200mmol/l) were associated with lipidic/necrotic plaque core (OR=16.88 [1.10-259.30]; P=0.043). Low HDL levels (OR=7.22 [1.00-51.95], P=0.049) and HbA1c >7% (OR=0.08 [0.01-0.93], P=0.044) were associated with type III/IV plaques whereas HgAbc1 >7% (OR=14.26 [1.21-168.34], P=0.035) was associated with Type V plaques. ConclusionsThis preliminary study has revealed some potential risk factors associated with unstable carotid plaques. This data could help the future development of prognostic models in order to early detect patients that could benefit from further intervention.

A meta-analysis supporting the superiority of staged carotid artery stenting and coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with concurrent severe coronary and carotid artery stenosis.

This study sought to ascertain whether a staged approach involving carotid artery stenting (CAS) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) holds superiority over the synchronous (Syn) strategy of CAS or carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and CABG in patients necessitating combined revascularization for concurrent carotid and coronary artery disease. Studies were identified through 3 databases: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Statistical significance was defined as a P value of less than .05 for all analyses, conducted using STATA version 12.0. In the comparison between staged versus Syn CAS and CABG for patients with concomitant severe coronary and carotid stenosis, 4 studies were analyzed. The staged procedure was associated with a lower rate of 30-day stroke (OR = 8.329, 95% CI = 1.017-69.229, P = .048) compared to Syn CAS and CABG. In the comparison between staged CAS and CABG versus Syn CEA and CABG for patients with concomitant severe coronary and carotid stenosis, 5 studies were examined. The staged CAS and CABG procedure was associated with a lower rate of mortality (OR = 2.046, 95% CI = 1.304-3.210, P = .002) compared to Syn CEA and CABG. The Syn CAS and CABG was linked to a higher risk of peri-operative stroke compared to staged CAS and CABG. Additionally, patients undergoing staged CAS and CABG exhibited a significantly decreased risk of 30-day mortality compared to Syn CEA and CABG. Future randomized trials or prospective cohorts are essential to confirm and validate these findings.

LncRNA HOTAIR: A Novel Biomarker for the Diagnosis of Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis and Prediction of the Onset of Cerebral Ischemic Events

BackgroundCarotid artery stenosis (CAS) is a major cause of cerebral ischemic events (CIE). The purpose of the research was to reveal the diagnostic accuracy of long non-coding RNA hox transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) in asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (ACAS) patients and its predictive significance in CIE incidence.Methods88 patients with ACAS and 80 controls were included. Blood samples were collected and serum HOTAIR levels were detected by qRT-PCR. Logistic regression examined factors associated with the degree of carotid stenosis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve assessed the diagnostic accuracy of HOTAIR in identifying patients with ACAS. Predictive value of serum HOTAIR levels for the occurrence of CIE was assessed by Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression.ResultsSerum HOTAIR was markedly lower in ACAS patients than in controls (P < 0.001). Logistic regressions confirmed that HOTAIR levels correlated with severe carotid artery stenosis (OR = 0.289, 95% CI = 0.107–0.786, P = 0.015). ROC’s AUC was 0.925, indicating high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating between the controls and patients with ACAS. Furthermore, CIE-positive patients had lower HOTAIR levels than CIE-negative, and the degree of carotid stenosis (HR = 4.566, 95% CI = 1.206–17.292, P = 0.025) and HOTAIR levels (HR = 0.244, 95% CI = 0.072–0.824, P = 0.023) were independent risk factors for the development of CIE. Patients with lower HOTAIR were more susceptible to CIE (log-rank P = 0.001).ConclusionsSerum HOTAIR was reduced in patients with ACAS and may be a non-invasive diagnostic biomarker for ACAS and predicts the development of CIE.

Analysis of the Effect of Endarterectomy and Carotid Stenting Applied to Patients with Carotid Artery Stenosis

Objective: To explore the effect of endothelial stripping and carotid stenting applied to patients with carotid artery stenosis. Methods: 90 patients with carotid artery stenosis were selected and divided into 2 groups by equal randomization method, with 45 cases in each group. One group was subjected to endothelial debridement and the other group was subjected to carotid artery stenting. The evaluation scales corresponding to the perioperative indexes of the two groups were compared and evaluated. Results: The operative time, intraoperative bleeding, and postoperative pain scores of CEA patients were significantly better than those of CAS, with statistically significant differences (P &lt; 0.05). The incidence rate of vascular events in CAS patients (4.44%) was lower than that of CEA (20.00%), with statistically significant differences (P &lt; 0.05), and the postoperative blood pressure recovery time of CAS patients was significantly better than that of CEA, with statistically significant differences (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: CEA and CAS are both effective methods for treating carotid artery stenosis, and it is necessary to choose the most suitable method in the process of treatment in combination with the actual situation of the patient, to obtain the best therapeutic effect. For patients with more severe carotid artery stenosis or unstable plaques confined to the opening of the internal carotid artery, it is more suitable to choose the CAS method.

Internal carotid artery stenosis and occlusion based on machine learning: A comparative analysis of high-resolution MRI and CT angiography

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical application value of the imaging model of carotid artery stenosis occlusion based on machine learning. MethodsA comprehensive analysis was conducted on the medical records, MRI, and CT angiography images of 188 patients diagnosed with severe carotid artery stenosis. Specifically, the training cohort comprised 131 patients, including 107 males and 24 females, with an average age of 68 ± 8 years. A distinct verification group included 57 patients, 50 males, and 7 females, averaging 67 ± 8 years old. For the study, the volume of interest was manually outlined slice by slice, following the contour of the carotid plaque on cross-sectional images. The Radiomics package of Python software was used to extract image omics features. Feature screening was performed using intra - and inter-group correlation coefficients, redundancy analysis, minimum absolute contraction, and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. ResultsFour image omics features were selected based on the training set to construct the prediction model. Among the six machine learning models, the logistic regression model showed high and stable diagnostic efficiency, with an AUC of 0.872, sensitivity of 100.0%, and specificity of 66.2% in the training set. The AUC of the validation set was 0.867, the sensitivity was 83.3%, and the specificity was 78.8%. The calibration curve and DCA show that the logistic regression model has a reasonable degree of calibration and clinical application value. ConclusionPredictive MRI and CT angiography models based on machine learning have their respective application values in risk stratification of patients with severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis.

Real-world use of medical therapy in moderate asymptomatic carotid stenosis

ObjectiveDespite level 1 evidence demonstrating the benefit of carotid endarterectomy for the prevention of stroke in patients with severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS), there has been a trend toward recommending optimal medical therapy (OMT) alone. This recommendation has been promulgated based on the observation that modern advances in OMT reduce the overall stroke risk in the general population, but the success of this treatment strategy is dependent on patient and provider adherence. In current practice, patients with moderate ACS are nearly all treated with OMT alone. The objective of this study was to evaluate adherence to OMT in a cohort of patients with moderate ACS undergoing treatment with OMT alone. MethodsConsecutive carotid duplex ultrasound examinations were reviewed for the years 2019 and 2020. Those with moderate (50%-69%) ACS based on Society for Vascular Surgery guidelines were included in the study. Patients were assessed for OMT at the time of the index duplex, the first follow-up visit, and at each subsequent follow-up visit until the end of the study. OMT was defined as abstinence from smoking, aspirin or other antiplatelet use, and statin or other lipid-lowering therapy. Patients were stratified based on their ability to achieve OMT, and each component was evaluated to identify shortfalls in therapy. ResultsA total of 323 duplex ultrasound examinations with moderate ACS in 255 patients were identified. Of the 255 patients, 143 (56.1%) were on OMT at the time of the first duplex; that number increased to 163 (63.9%) by the first follow-up visit and 175 (68.6%) by the completion of the study. There were 112 (43.9%) patients who were not on OMT at the time of the index duplex, 43 (38.4%) of whom achieved OMT over a median follow-up time of 2.7 years. By the end of follow-up, 86 (76.8%) were taking aspirin or another antiplatelet medication, 93 (83.0%) were on statin or other lipid-lowering therapy, and 74 (66.1%) were abstinent from smoking. Pre-duplex smoking was independently associated with failure to achieve OMT (hazard ratio: 0.452, P = .017). ConclusionsAmong patients with moderate ACS who were not previously on OMT, the rate of OMT achievement is poor. Although advances in lipid management through statin therapy have been praised for their role in improving the effectiveness of OMT, smoking cessation represents an important target for improving uptake and as a result effectiveness of OMT.