Intraplaque hemorrhage assessed by high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging and C-reactive protein in carotid atherosclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Carotid intraplaque hemorrhage is a marker of atheroma instability. Noninvasive assessment of bleeding can be performed by high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but its association with inflammatory markers has not been clearly demonstrated.


METHODS
We evaluated consecutive carotid endarterectomy patients that underwent high-resolution MRI, independent evaluation of neurologic symptoms, C-reactive protein measurement, and histologic analysis. Intraplaque hemorrhage was determined by the presence of a hyperintense MRI signal (T1-weighted sequence).


RESULTS
The study included 70 predominantly male (66%) and hypertensive (89%) patients (89%) aged 66 +/- 9 years old. MR angiography identified 15 patients (21.5%) with stenosis between 50% and 69%, 15 (21.5%) with stenosis between 70% and 90%, and 40 (57%) with stenosis >90%. High-resolution MRI depicted a hyperintense signal suggestive of intraplaque bleeding in 45 subjects (64%). All patients who had had transient ischemic attacks >90 days before the surgery showed a hyperintense signal on MRI (P = .007). Age, gender, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and history of myocardial infarction or peripheral arterial disease were similar in patients with or without signs of intraplaque bleeding on MRI. There was excellent agreement between acute or recent hemorrhage on histologic and MRI findings (kappa coefficient, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.81 to 1.00). Only one of 45 patients (2%) with a hyperintense signal on MRI did not have acute or recent hemorrhage in the histologic analysis (P < .001). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were similar for different degrees of carotid stenosis as assessed by MR angiography, but they were significantly higher in clinically unstable patients (P = .006) and in those with a positive hyperintense MRI signal (P = .01). In an aggregated analysis of neurologic symptoms and MRI findings, we found a progressive increase of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (P = .02).


CONCLUSIONS
Intraplaque hemorrhage evaluated by MRI identified neurologically unstable patients with increased levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein regardless of the degree of carotid stenosis.
Albuquerque
Luciano Cabral
LC
Division of Adult Cardiovascular Surgery, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul's São Lucas Hospital, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Narvaes
Luciane Barreneche
LB
Maciel
Aluísio Antunes
AA
Staub
Henrique
H
Friedrich
Maurício
M
Filho
João Rubião Hoefel
JR
Marques
Maurício Barreira
MB
Rohde
Luis Eduardo
LE
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein