TY - JOUR
T1 - Contrast-enhanced ultrasound for the evaluation of neovascularization in atherosclerotic carotid artery plaques
AU - Saito, Kozue
AU - Nagatsuka, Kazuyuki
AU - Ishibashi-Ueda, Hatsue
AU - Watanabe, Akihiro
AU - Kannki, Hideaki
AU - Iihara, Koji
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 American Heart Association, Inc.
PY - 2014/10/12
Y1 - 2014/10/12
N2 - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE -: Neovascularization associated with plaque vulnerability, particularly in the plaque shoulder, is susceptible to rupture, causing ischemic events. We aimed to use contrast-enhanced ultrasound to evaluate neovessels in carotid plaques quantitatively, focusing on plaque shoulders. METHODS -: Using contrast-enhanced ultrasound with perflubutane, we analyzed 50 consecutive patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy. We measured enhanced intensity and assessed the correlation between contrast effect and histopathology, comparing symptomatic and asymptomatic plaques. RESULTS -: Enhanced intensity of the plaque shoulder was associated with neovessel density (P<0.01; ≥ =0.43). Enhanced intensity of the plaque shoulder was higher in plaques with rupture than in those without (P<0.05), and in symptomatic plaques (n=31) than in asymptomatic ones (n=19; P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS -: Quantitative evaluation of the contrast effect using contrast-enhanced ultrasound enabled the assessment of neovascularization of plaque shoulders in vivo real time, which may help stratify plaque vulnerability.
AB - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE -: Neovascularization associated with plaque vulnerability, particularly in the plaque shoulder, is susceptible to rupture, causing ischemic events. We aimed to use contrast-enhanced ultrasound to evaluate neovessels in carotid plaques quantitatively, focusing on plaque shoulders. METHODS -: Using contrast-enhanced ultrasound with perflubutane, we analyzed 50 consecutive patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy. We measured enhanced intensity and assessed the correlation between contrast effect and histopathology, comparing symptomatic and asymptomatic plaques. RESULTS -: Enhanced intensity of the plaque shoulder was associated with neovessel density (P<0.01; ≥ =0.43). Enhanced intensity of the plaque shoulder was higher in plaques with rupture than in those without (P<0.05), and in symptomatic plaques (n=31) than in asymptomatic ones (n=19; P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS -: Quantitative evaluation of the contrast effect using contrast-enhanced ultrasound enabled the assessment of neovascularization of plaque shoulders in vivo real time, which may help stratify plaque vulnerability.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84922480965&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84922480965&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1161/STROKEAHA.114.006483
DO - 10.1161/STROKEAHA.114.006483
M3 - Article
C2 - 25158775
AN - SCOPUS:84922480965
SN - 0039-2499
VL - 45
SP - 3073
EP - 3075
JO - Stroke
JF - Stroke
IS - 10
ER -