title: Metalloproteinase expression in carotid plaque and its correlation with plasma levels before and after carotid endarterectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess baseline and follow-up plasma concentrations of metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), MMP-2, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) in patients undergoing carotid thromboendarterectomy (TEA) in relation to tissue expression and diagnostic features.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, plasma levels of enzymes were determined in 15 patients undergoing carotid TEA. Tissue sections were incubated with specific antibodies and fluorescence intensity was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MMP-9 levels were higher in patients with carotid stenosis versus controls, significantly in those with cerebral lesions at neuroimaging. MMP-9 levels decreased in 93.4% of the patients at 1 month. MMP-2 levels tended to increase 30 days after surgery. TIMP-2 showed no difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High concentrations of MMP-9 found in patients with carotid stenosis and cerebral lesions suggest that MMP-9 assay could be useful in the evaluation of all carotid lesions to help identify those at highest risk of a neurologic event.
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. Chirurgia Vascolare, S. Andrea Hospital, 2nd Medical School, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. maurizio.taurino@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taurino
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raffa
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mastroddi
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Visco
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Torrisi
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Faraglia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000601:surgery; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000601:surgery; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology*; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9