Sex Differences in Plaque Composition and Morphology Among Symptomatic Patients With Mild-to-Moderate Carotid Artery Stenosis.

Background And Purpose: Incidence of ischemic stroke differs between men and women, with substantially higher rates in men. The underlying mechanism of this difference remains poorly understood but may be because of differences in carotid atherosclerosis. Using an in-depth imaging-based approach, we investigated differences between carotid plaque composition and morphology in male and female patients with stroke, taking into account differences in total plaque burden.

The Association Between Time-Varying Wall Shear Stress and the Development of Plaque Ulcerations in Carotid Arteries From the Plaque at Risk Study.

Shear stress (WSS) is involved in the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic disease and might affect plaque ulceration. In this case-control study, we compared carotid plaques that developed a ulcer during follow-up and plaques that remained silent for their exposure to time-dependent oscillatory shear stress parameters at baseline. Eighteen patients who underwent CTA and MRI of their carotid arteries at baseline and 2 years follow-up were included.

Dolichoarteriopathies of the extracranial internal carotid artery: The Plaque At RISK study.

Background And Purpose: Dolichoarteriopathies of the extracranial part of the internal carotid artery (ICA) are associated with cerebrovascular events, yet information on their prevalence and risk factors remains limited. The aim of the present study therefore was to study the prevalence and risk factors of dolichoarteriopathies in a sample of patients with cerebrovascular symptoms from the Plaque At RISK (PARISK) study.

Methods: In a random sample of 100 patients from the PARISK study, multidetector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA) was performed as part of clinical workup.

Association between Intraplaque Hemorrhage and Vascular Remodeling in Carotid Arteries: The Plaque at RISK (PARISK) Study.

Introduction: Vascular remodeling is a compensatory enlargement of the vessel wall in response to atherosclerotic plaque growth. We aimed to investigate the association between intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH), vascular remodeling, and luminal dimensions in recently symptomatic patients with mild to moderate carotid artery stenosis in which the differences in plaque size were taken into account.

Materials And Methods: We assessed vessel dimensions on MRI of the symptomatic carotid artery in 164 patients from the Plaque At RISK study.