CHANGES IN INTRA- AND EXTRACRANIAL CAROTID PLAQUE CALCIFICATION: A 2 YEARS FOLLOW-UP STUDY. (ID 1529)
Abstract
Group Name
The PARISK study (clinical trials.gov NCT01208025)
Background And Aims
Carotid atherosclerotic calcification has gained rapid interest given its potential plaque-stabilizing effects, yet information on temporal changes in calcification remains scarce. Hence, we evaluated changes in carotid plaque calcification over two years in a sample of symptomatic patients with carotid artery disease.
Methods
From the PARISK-study, a prospective cohort study with TIA/minor stroke patients with ipsilateral mild-to-moderate carotid artery stenosis (<70%), we included 79 patients (25% women, mean age 66 years) whom underwent serial CT imaging with a two-year interval. We assessed presence and volume of extra- and intracranial carotid artery calcification (ECAC, ICAC). Next, we calculated the absolute difference in ECAC and ICAC volume, and performed logistic regression analyses to investigate associations of cardiovascular determinants with in- or decrease of ECAC and ICAC.
Results
We found an increase in ECAC volume in 46% of patients (median:23.0 mm3[IQR=3.9;40.1]) and in 45% in ICAC volume (median:12.9 mm3[IQR=7.2;27.5]). We found that a larger ECAC volume at baseline was associated with less increase of ECAC over two years (odds ratio (OR):0.72 [95%CI=0.58;0.90]). No statistically significant associations were found for increase in ICAC. Additionally, we observed decreases in ECAC and ICAC in 34% and 25% of the arteries. More ECAC, and the presence of intraplaque haemorrhage at baseline related to a decrease in ECAC (OR:2.24 [95%CI=1.60;3.13], and OR:2.28 [95%CI=1.04;5.01]). For ICAC, we found that more ICAC at baseline was associated with a decrease in ICAC (OR:2.17 [95%CI=1.48;3.16]).
Conclusions
We provide important novel insights into the dynamics of carotid plaque calcification in TIA/minor stroke patients.
Trial Registration Number
clinical trials.gov NCT01208025
