Correlation between aortic/carotid atherosclerotic plaques and cerebral infarction

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between aortic/carotid atherosclerotic plaques and cerebral infarction. We examined 116 cases of cerebral infarction using transcranial Doppler ultrasound in order to exclude cerebrovascular stenosis. Transesophageal echocardiography and color Doppler ultrasound were used to detect aortic atherosclerotic plaques (AAPs) and carotid atherosclerotic plaques (CAPs). AAPs were detected in a total of 70 of the 116 cases (60.3%), including 56 with moderate/severe atherosclerotic changes (48.3%). The difference in the incidence of various types of infarction between APP severity levels was significant (P<0.01). Of the 116 cases, 64 had CAPs (55.2%), including 46 with unstable plaque (39.7%). The difference in the incidence of various types of infarction between CAP stability levels was significant (P<0.01). The results indicate that moderate/severe AAP and unstable CAP are significant causes of embolic infarction without stenosis in the internal carotid arteries.

Carotid plaques and neurological impairment in patients with acute cerebral infarction

“…The pathological process of atherosclerosis may be divided into three stages: vascular endothelial dysfunction, intima thickening, and atherosclerotic plaque formation [34,43]. Finally, it causes cerebral vascular events [44,45]. Carotid atherosclerotic plaque is widely regarded as a window of systemic atherosclerotic disease.…”

Prevalencia De Aterosclerosis Carotídea Diagnosticada Mediante Ecografía Doppler Y Factores Asociados. Hospital "José Carrasco Arteaga", Cuenca 2013.

“…El análisis de la mecánica de los fluidos vasculares muestra que las lesiones ateroscleróticas se presentan en zonas específicas predilectas: bulbo, bifurcación carotídea, origen de las arterias carótidas interna y externa y porción proximal de la carótida común [18,19]. El riesgo de sufrir un infarto embólico está determinado más por las características de las placas ateromatosas, que por el grosor ín-tima-media o por el grado de estenosis que exista en las arterias carótidas internas [19,20]. Las placas fibrosas ricas en colágeno no tienen mucho riesgo de llevar al paciente a un ECV.…”

Complex Atheromatosis of the Aortic Arch: An Emerging Diagnosis in Cerebral Ischemia of Unknown Cause

“…Complex aortic arch atheromatosis is a proven cause of cerebral ischemia. In the recent clinical study of Wang et al [9] of 116 patients with cerebral infarction, 70 had aortic atherosclerotic plaques (5.7% in the ascending aorta, 77.1% at the arch, 17.1% in the descending aorta), and 64/70 had carotid atherosclerotic plaques too (46 were unstable). Moderate/severe aortic atherosclerotic plaques and unstable carotid plaques are significant causes of embolic cerebral infarction without stenosis of the internal carotid arteries [9].…”

“…In the recent clinical study of Wang et al [9] of 116 patients with cerebral infarction, 70 had aortic atherosclerotic plaques (5.7% in the ascending aorta, 77.1% at the arch, 17.1% in the descending aorta), and 64/70 had carotid atherosclerotic plaques too (46 were unstable). Moderate/severe aortic atherosclerotic plaques and unstable carotid plaques are significant causes of embolic cerebral infarction without stenosis of the internal carotid arteries [9]. In the study of Sharifkazemi et al [10], aortic atheroma was present in 25% of elderly ischemic stroke patients (underwent transesophageal echocardiography) without significant carotid artery stenosis.…”