Peripheral Vascular Resistance in Cerebral Arteries in Patients With Carotid Atherosclerosis – Substudy Results of the Atherosclerotic Plaque Characteristics Associated With a Progression Rate of the Plaque and a Risk of Stroke in Patients With the Carotid Bifurcation Plaque Study (ANTIQUE)

Abstract

for the ANTIQUE Trial GroupObjectives-Transcranial color-coded duplex sonography (TCCS) enables to measure blood flow characteristics in cerebral vessels, including vascular resistance and pulsatility. The study aims to identify factors influencing pulsatility (PI) and resistance (RI) indices measured using TCCS in patients with carotid atherosclerosis.Methods-Self-sufficient patients with atherosclerotic plaque causing 20-70% carotid stenosis were consecutively enrolled to the study. All patients underwent duplex sonography of cervical arteries and TCCS with measurement of PI and RI in the middle cerebral artery, neurological, and physical examinations. Following data were recorded: age, gender, height, weight, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, occurrence of current and previous diseases, surgery, medication, smoking, and daily dose of alcohol. Univariant and multivariant logistic regression analysis were used for identification of the factors influencing RI and PI.Results-Totally 1863 subjects were enrolled to the study: 139 healthy controls (54 males, age 55.52 AE 7.05 years) in derivation cohort and 1724 patients (777 males, age 68.73 AE 9.39 years) in validation cohort. The cut off value for RI was 0.63 and for PI 1.21. Independent factors for increased RI/PI were age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.108/1.105 per 1 year), occurrence of diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.767/2.170), arterial hypertension (OR = 1.700 for RI only), width of the carotid plaque (OR = 1.260 per 10% stenosis for RI only), and male gender (OR = 1.530 for PI only; P <.01 in all cases). Conclusions-The independent predictors of increased cerebral arterial resistance and/or pulsatility in patients with carotid atherosclerosis were age, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, carotid plaque width, and male gender.

Cerebrovascular Phenotype in Fabry Disease Patients Assessed by Ultrasound

“…Our results show significantly higher PI in FD patients than in controls. Higher PI was observed among males, and PI values increased with age, which is consistent with findings in a larger Czech cohort of non‐FD patients 50 …”

“…Higher PI was observed among males, and PI values increased with age, which is consistent with findings in a larger Czech cohort of non-FD patients. 50 The finding of a higher PI in patients with FD could indicate vascular involvement. The PI increase is often interpreted as a reflection of downstream arterial tree resistance and is used as a marker of microangiopathic changes in the distal vascular bed of the measured artery.…”

Associations between the retinal/choroidal microvasculature and carotid plaque in patients with CAD: An OCTA study

“…Another article also elaborated important finding that the increased max plaque length strongly predicted not only the CAD presence but also its severity, supporting the hypothesis that max plaque length could be used as an independent indicator of coronary lesions [ 33 ]. The influence of carotid plaque width on peripheral vascular may be related to carotid hypertension, leading to multiple vessel wall changes [ 34 ]. Our results showed retinal/choroidal vessel density and plaque width had statistical correlation, which indicated fundus microvasculature may be more affected by carotid hypertension than by blood flow resistance.…”

Associations Between the Retinal/Choroidal Microvasculature and Carotid Plaque in Patients with CHD: An Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study

“…Another article also elaborated important nding that the increased max plaque length strongly predicted not only the CAD presence but also its severity, supporting the hypothesis that max plaque length could be used as an independent indicator of coronary lesions 33 . The in uence of carotid plaque width on peripheral vascular may be related to carotid hypertension, leading to multiple vessel wall changes 34 . Our results showed retinal/choroidal vessel density and plaque width had statistical correlation, which indicated fundus microvasculature may be more affected by carotid hypertension than by blood ow resistance.…”