Image and Laboratory Aspects of Carotid Atherosclerosis

Carotid atherosclerosis is a main risk factor for ischemic stroke. Plaque instability is determined by the morphological characteristics of the plaque and can be characterized by immunological biomarkers. The study aimed to examine the connection between serum levels of hs-CRP, fibrinogen, ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and carotid atherosclerosis and the different types of atherosclerotic plaques imaged by ultrasound and magnetic resonance. The study involved 120 patients with carotid atherosclerosis and 33 patients without carotid atherosclerosis. Blood samples were collected to analyze the serum level of hs-CRP, fibrinogen, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. The ultrasound analysis included detection of atherosclerotic plaques in the internal carotid arteries, measurement of artery stenosis in percentage and determination of plaque types by the classification of Gray-Weales/Gerolacus. A small subset of 30 patients with carotid atherosclerosis performed 3T magnetic resonance imaging. Atherosclerotic plaques were classified into 8 types based on the modified MR classification of the American Heart Association. Significantly higher serum levels of hs-CRP (p <0.001) and fibrinogen (p = 0.018) were observed in patients with carotid atherosclerosis compared to patients without atherosclerosis. Criterion values for hs-CRP > 4.13mg/l and for fibrinogen > 3.6 g/l were associated with the presence of carotid plaques with accuracy of 70%. No relation was observed between the investigated biomarkers, the artery stenosis and the types of atherosclerotic plaques determined by ultrasound and magnetic resonance diagnostic methods. Hs-CRP and fibrinogen are reliable serum markers whose increased serum concentrations are connected with the presence of carotid atherosclerosis.