http://repub.eur.nl/res/aut/19056/ List of Publications en http://repub.eur.nl/static-eur/img/logo.png http://repub.eur.nl http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/25801/ 2011-05-01T00:00:00Z BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE-Intracranial arterial stenosis (ICAS) in patients with recent ischemic stroke is associated with a high risk of recurrent stroke. More insight into the pathophysiology of ICAS could help identify patients at high risk requiring more aggressive secondary prevention. We evaluated the prevalence, distribution, calcification, and the risk factors predisposing ICAS in a European stroke population. METHODS-Consecutive patients with a transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke (n=786) were evaluated for the presence and distribution of ICAS (≥30% luminal narrowing) by CT angiography. ICAS were categorized as symptomatic or asymptomatic, and the presence of calcification was assessed. The association of traditional cerebrovascular risk factors and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate with ICAS was analyzed. RESULTS-In 178 of 786 patients (23%), 288 ICAS were observed. Most stenoses (n=194/288; 67%) were located in the posterior circulation arteries. In 59 of 786 patients (8%), ICAS were considered symptomatic. ICAS in the basilar artery and arteries beyond the circle of Willis were mainly noncalcified. In addition to age, gender, and several traditional cerebrovascular risk factors, erythrocyte sedimentation rate was independently associated with the presence of ICAS (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.06-1.36) and with the presence of noncalcified ICAS in particular (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.05-1.37). CONCLUSIONS-ICAS was observed in a noteworthy number of European stroke patients. Particularly, the majority of ICAS was observed in the posterior circulation, possibly conferring worse prognosis. ICAS in distal arteries were mainly noncalcified. Association of noncalcified ICAS and erythrocyte sedimentation rate may indicate a prominent role for inflammatory factors in intracranial atherosclerotic disease. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/31633/ 2011-02-01T00:00:00Z Background and Purpose- Symptomatic carotid artery plaque ulceration is associated with distinct plaque components such as a large lipid-rich necrotic core (LR-NC) in ischemic stroke patients with a 50% carotid stenosis. We evaluated the associations between carotid artery plaque ulceration and plaque characteristics in ischemic stroke patients with 50% stenosis, as well as in those with a low degree of stenosis (0% to 49%). Methods- Consecutive patients (n=346) with symptoms in the anterior circulation were evaluated with multidetector CT angiography (MDCTA) for the presence of atherosclerotic plaque, degree of stenosis, and plaque ulceration in the symptomatic carotid artery. Plaque volume and plaque component proportions of LR-NC, fibrous tissue, and calcification were measured. The associations between plaque ulceration and plaque characteristics were analyzed using logistic regression. Results- Atherosclerotic plaque was present in 185 patients. Plaque ulcerations were present in 38 (21%) patients, of which half had a low degree stenosis (0% to 49%). Plaque volume was significantly larger in ulcerated plaques. After adjustment for age, sex, and degree of stenosis, LR-NC proportion was strongly associated with plaque ulceration (odds ratio, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.49 to 3.27), whereas calcification proportion was inversely associated with plaque ulceration (odds ratio, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.40 to 0.89). These associations remained significant in patients with a low degree stenosis (0% to 49%). CONCLUSION-: Plaque volume, degree of stenosis, and LR-NC proportion evaluated noninvasively with MDCTA are associated with carotid artery plaque ulceration, even in patients with a low degree stenosis (0% to 49%). Plaque volume and composition analysis with MDCTA may identify rupture prone plaques and improve risk stratification in ischemic stroke patients. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/34244/ 2011-02-01T00:00:00Z Background: Atherosclerotic carotid plaque rupture may lead to thromboembolization, causing transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke. Carotid plaque ulceration on angiography is associated with plaque rupture. Although healing of ruptured plaques has been described in coronary arteries, little is known about the natural development of plaque ulcerations in carotid arteries. We therefore explored the evolution of carotid plaque surface morphology with serial multidetector CT angiography (MDCTA). Methods: From a registry of patients with transient ischemic attack or minor ischemic stroke, we selected 83 patients who had undergone serial MDCTA of the carotid arteries. Arteries subjected to revascularization procedures between the two scans were excluded (n = 11). Plaque surface morphology was classified as smooth, irregular or ulcerated on both baseline and follow-up MDCTA. Progression (i.e. development of irregularities or ulceration) and regression (i.e. disappearance of irregularities or ulceration) in morphology were evaluated. Results: The mean time interval between the MDCTA scans was 21 ± 13 months. At baseline, 28 (18%) arteries were normal, 124 (80%) contained atherosclerotic plaque and 3 (2%) were occluded. Plaque surface morphology was smooth in 86 arteries (55%), irregular in 23 (15%) and ulcerated in 15 (10%). At follow-up, surface morphology was unchanged in 88% of arteries, had progressed in 8% and regressed in 4%. Most importantly, plaque morphology remained unchanged in most ulcerated plaques (10/15; 67%). One ulcerated plaque had progressed, whereas 4 had regressed. New ulcerations had developed in 2 nonulcerated plaques. Conclusion: MDCTA allows evaluation of temporal changes in atherosclerotic carotid plaque morphology. Plaque surface morphology remained unchanged in most arteries. Carotid ulcerations persist for a long time, and may remain a potential source of thromboembolism. Copyright http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/27275/ 2010-06-01T00:00:00Z Background and Purpose: Atherosclerotic carotid plaque ulceration is considered a marker of previous plaque rupture and subsequent thromboembolism. It can be accurately detected with multidetector CTA. We hypothesized that atherosclerotic plaque ulceration is associated with nonlacunar ischemic stroke rather than lacunar stroke. Methods: Prospectively, 750 consecutive patients with transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke symptoms in the anterior cerebral circulation were evaluated for the presence of atherosclerotic plaque ulceration in the symptomatic carotid artery with multidetector CTA. Patients with stroke attributable to cardiac embolism or other specific etiologies and patients with amaurosis fugax were excluded. Ischemic strokes in the remaining 534 patients were classified as nonlacunar (n≤236) or lacunar (n≤298) based on clinical symptoms and multidetector CT of the brain. Ulceration was defined as extension of contrast material beyond the vascular lumen into the surrounding plaque. RESULTS: Plaque ulceration in the symptomatic carotid artery was more common in nonlacunar strokes (n≤47; 20%) as compared to lacunar strokes (n≤20; 7%; P<0.001). After adjustment for age, gender, cardiovascular risk factors, and degree of stenosis, ulcerations were independently associated with nonlacunar stroke compared to lacunar stroke (odds ratio, 2.70; 95% confidence interval, 1.43-5.09). Conclusions: Atherosclerotic carotid plaque ulceration is associated with nonlacunar ischemic stroke, independent of the degree of carotid stenosis. These results suggest that nonlacunar stroke and lacunar stroke are caused by different pathophysiological mechanisms. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/16867/ 2009-04-22T00:00:00Z The purpose of this study was to examine the volume and the composition of atherosclerotic plaque in symptomatic carotid arteries and to investigate the relationship between these plaque features and the severity of stenosis and the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. One hundred patients with cerebrovascular symptoms underwent CT angiography. We measured plaque volume (PV) and the relative contribution of plaque components (calcifications, fibrous tissue, and lipid) in the symptomatic artery. The contribution of different components was measured as the number of voxels within defined ranges of HU values (calcification >130 HU, fibrous tissue 60-130 HU, lipid core <60 HU). Fifty-seven patients had atherosclerotic plaque in the symptomatic carotid artery. The severity of stenosis and PV were moderately correlated. Age and smoking were independently related to PV. Patients with hypercholesterolemia had significantly less lipid and more calcium in their plaques than patients without hypercholesterolemia. Other cardiovascular risk factors were not significantly related to PV or plaque composition. Luminal stenosis of the carotid artery partly reflects the amount of atherosclerotic carotid disease. Plaque volume and plaque composition are associated with cardiovascular risk factors. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/16434/ 2009-04-01T00:00:00Z Background and Purpose - Complicated (irregular or ulcerated) carotid plaques have proven to be independent predictors of stroke. We analyzed the frequency and location of plaque irregularities in a large cohort of patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease and the relation with severity of stenosis, cardiovascular risk factors, and symptomatology. Methods - Multidetector CT angiography images from 406 patients were evaluated. Plaque surface morphology was classified as smooth, irregular, or ulcerated. The location of the ulceration was defined as proximal or distal to the point of maximum stenosis. Results - Atherosclerotic plaques with an open lumen were present in 448 carotid arteries; these plaques were classified as: smooth, 276 (62%); irregular, 99 (22%); and ulcerated, 73 (16%). Sixty-two (69%) of the ulcerations were located proximal to the point of maximum luminal stenosis. Complicated plaques were significantly (P<0.001) more common in carotid arteries with stenosis >30% than in those with stenosis <30%. There is an association between complicated plaques and hypercholesterolemia (OR, 3.0) and a trend toward an association with smoking (OR, 1.9). Complicated plaques are more often present in the symptomatic carotid artery than in the contralateral asymptomatic carotid artery; however, this is fully attributed to a significantly higher degree of stenosis in the symptomatic arteries. Conclusions - Multidetector CT angiography allows the classification of atherosclerotic carotid plaque surface. Complicated plaques are frequent in atherosclerotic carotid disease, especially with higher stenosis degree. Ulcerations are mostly located in the proximal part of the atherosclerotic plaque. Hypercholesterolemia and smoking are related with the presence of complicated plaques.