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J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2007;78:1337-1343 doi:10.1136/jnnp.2007.118901
  • Paper

Comparison of the inflammatory burden of truly asymptomatic carotid atheroma with atherosclerotic plaques contralateral to symptomatic carotid stenosis: an ultra small superparamagnetic iron oxide enhanced magnetic resonance study

  1. Tjun Y Tang1,
  2. Simon P S Howarth1,
  3. Sam R Miller2,
  4. Martin J Graves1,
  5. Jean-Marie U-King-Im1,
  6. Rikin A Trivedi5,
  7. Zhi Yong Li1,
  8. Stewart R Walsh3,
  9. Andrew P Brown4,
  10. Peter J Kirkpatrick5,
  11. Michael E Gaunt3,
  12. Jonathan H Gillard1
  1. 1
    University Department of Radiology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
  2. 2
    Biostatistics and Data Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Harlow, UK
  3. 3
    Cambridge Vascular Unit, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
  4. 4
    Translational Medicine and Genetics, GlaxoSmithKline, Greenford, UK
  5. 5
    Academic Department of Neurosurgery, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
  1. Jonathan H Gillard, University Department of Radiology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK; jhg21{at}cam.ac.uk
  • Received 21 February 2007
  • Revised 24 April 2007
  • Accepted 25 May 2007
  • Published Online First 19 June 2007

Abstract

Background: Inflammation is a recognised risk factor for the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque. The aim of this study was to explore whether there is a difference in the degree of magnetic resonance (MR) defined inflammation using ultra small superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) particles within carotid atheroma in completely asymptomatic individuals and the asymptomatic carotid stenosis contralateral to the symptomatic side.

Methods: 20 symptomatic patients with contralateral disease and 20 completely asymptomatic patients underwent multi-sequence MR imaging before and 36 h after USPIO infusion. Images were manually segmented into quadrants and signal change in each quadrant was calculated following USPIO administration. Mean signal change was compared across all quadrants in the two groups.

Results: The mean percentage of quadrants showing signal loss was 53% in the contralateral group compared with 31% in completely asymptomatic individuals (p = 0.025). The mean percentages showing enhancement were 44% and 65%, respectively (p = 0.024). The mean signal difference between the two groups was 8.6% (95% CI 1.6% to 15.6%; p = 0.017).

Conclusions: Truly asymptomatic plaques seem to demonstrate inflammation but not to the extent of the contralateral asymptomatic stenosis to the symptomatic side. Inflammatory activity may be a significant risk factor in asymptomatic disease.

Footnotes

  • Sources of funding: GlaxoSmithKline and the Stroke Association

  • Competing interests: Stewart R Walsh and Andrew P Brown are employees of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Jonathan H Gillard is a consultant to GSK.

  • Abbreviations:
    CABG
    coronary artery bypass grafting
    MR
    magnetic resonance
    USPIO
    ultra small superparamagnetic iron oxide

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