Acta Radiol. 2026 May 12:2841851261445322. doi: 10.1177/02841851261445322. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BackgroundAtherosclerosis is a systemic disease that usually affects multi-vascular beds, and high-risk atherosclerotic plaques (HRPs) are associated with ischemic events.PurposeTo investigate the prevalence and risk factors of co-existing extracranial carotid and intracranial artery HRPs using magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging (MR-VWI).Material and MethodsParticipants (n = 190; 120 men, mean age = 63.4 ± 9.4 years) with co-existing extracranial carotid and intracranial plaques were recruited from a multicenter observational study of CARE-II. All patients underwent carotid MR-VWI and intracranial MRA at 3.0 T. The prevalence of risk factors between the non-HRP, single HRP, and co-existing HRPs groups was compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the associations between risk factors and the three groups.ResultsAmong 190 patients, 77 (40.5%) were in the non-HRP group, 78 (41.1%) were in the single HRP group, and 35 (18.4%) were in the co-existing HRPs groups. Multivariate regression analysis showed that patients in the co-existing HRPs group were more likely to have a higher prevalence of diabetes (OR = 3.92, 95% CI = 1.53-10.04; P = 0.004) and family history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (OR = 3.37, 95% CI = 1.26-8.98; P = 0.015) compared to the non-HRP group after adjusting for age, sex, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and smoking. Similarly, patients with co-existing HRPs were more likely to have higher prevalence of diabetes (OR = 2.49, 95% CI = 1.04-5.95; P = 0.040) compared to the single HRP group after adjusting for age, sex, and HDL.ConclusionCo-existing extracranial carotid and intracranial artery HRPs are observed in middle-aged and elderly symptomatic atherosclerotic patients. Diabetes and family history of CVD are independent risk factors for co-existing HRPs.
PMID:42117628 | DOI:10.1177/02841851261445322