TY - JOUR
T1 - Determinants of carotid atherosclerotic plaque burden in a stroke-free population
AU - Selwaness, Mariana
AU - Hameeteman, Reinhard
AU - Van 't Klooster, Ronald
AU - Van den Bouwhuijsen, Quirijn
AU - Hofman, Albert
AU - Franco, Oscar H.
AU - Niessen, Wiro J.
AU - Klein, Stefan
AU - Vernooij, Meike W.
AU - Van der Lugt, Aad
AU - Wentzel, Jolanda J.
PY - 2016/12/1
Y1 - 2016/12/1
N2 - Background and aims In a large stroke-free population, we sought to identify cardiovascular risk factors and carotid plaque components associated with carotid plaque burden, lumen volume and stenosis. Methods The carotid arteries of 1562 stroke-free participants from The Rotterdam Study were imaged on a 1.5-Tesla MRI scanner. Inner and outer wall of the carotid arteries were automatically segmented and lumen volume (mm3), wall volume (outer wall–inner wall) and plaque burden (wall volume/outer wall volume) (%) were quantified. Plaque components were visually determined and luminal stenosis was assessed. We analyzed associations of cardiovascular risk factors and carotid plaque components with plaque burden and lumen volumes using regression analysis. Results We investigated 2821 carotid plaques and found that women had larger plaque burden (50.7 ± 7.8% vs. 49.2 ± 7.7%, p <0.0001) and smaller lumen volumes (933 ± 286 mm3 vs. 1078 ± 334 mm3, p <0.0001) than men. In women, age, HDL-cholesterol and systolic blood pressure, and in men, total cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol and statin use were independently associated with higher plaque burden and lumen volume. Furthermore, smoking and diabetes were associated with lumen volume in men (respectively p = 0.04 and p = 0.002). Intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) and lipid were related to a larger plaque burden (OR 1.30 [1.05–1.60] and OR 1.28[1.06–1.55]). Finally, within the highest quartile of plaque burden, IPH was strongly associated with luminal stenosis independent of age, sex, plaque burden and composition (Beta = 15.2; [11.8–18.6]). Conclusions Several cardiovascular risk factors and plaque components, in particular IPH, are associated with higher plaque burden. Carotid IPH is strongly associated with an increased luminal stenosis.
AB - Background and aims In a large stroke-free population, we sought to identify cardiovascular risk factors and carotid plaque components associated with carotid plaque burden, lumen volume and stenosis. Methods The carotid arteries of 1562 stroke-free participants from The Rotterdam Study were imaged on a 1.5-Tesla MRI scanner. Inner and outer wall of the carotid arteries were automatically segmented and lumen volume (mm3), wall volume (outer wall–inner wall) and plaque burden (wall volume/outer wall volume) (%) were quantified. Plaque components were visually determined and luminal stenosis was assessed. We analyzed associations of cardiovascular risk factors and carotid plaque components with plaque burden and lumen volumes using regression analysis. Results We investigated 2821 carotid plaques and found that women had larger plaque burden (50.7 ± 7.8% vs. 49.2 ± 7.7%, p <0.0001) and smaller lumen volumes (933 ± 286 mm3 vs. 1078 ± 334 mm3, p <0.0001) than men. In women, age, HDL-cholesterol and systolic blood pressure, and in men, total cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol and statin use were independently associated with higher plaque burden and lumen volume. Furthermore, smoking and diabetes were associated with lumen volume in men (respectively p = 0.04 and p = 0.002). Intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) and lipid were related to a larger plaque burden (OR 1.30 [1.05–1.60] and OR 1.28[1.06–1.55]). Finally, within the highest quartile of plaque burden, IPH was strongly associated with luminal stenosis independent of age, sex, plaque burden and composition (Beta = 15.2; [11.8–18.6]). Conclusions Several cardiovascular risk factors and plaque components, in particular IPH, are associated with higher plaque burden. Carotid IPH is strongly associated with an increased luminal stenosis.
KW - Atherosclerosis
KW - Automated segmentation
KW - Carotid artery
KW - Magnetic resonance imaging
KW - Plaque burden
KW - Plaque volume
UR - http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:2f09d5f3-1d85-4566-aa49-0e390d0866a1
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85000788475&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2016.10.030
DO - 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2016.10.030
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85000788475
SN - 0021-9150
VL - 255
SP - 186
EP - 192
JO - Atherosclerosis
JF - Atherosclerosis
ER -