The Relationship between Carotid Plaque Calcification and Stability

Authors

  • Kittipan Rerkasem Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. Center for Applied Science, Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
  • Patric J Gallagher Department of Pathology, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK
  • Robert F Grimble Institute of Human Nutrition, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
  • Clifford P Shearman Department of Vascular Surgery, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK

Keywords:

calcification, carotid, plaque, atherosclerosis, instability

Abstract

Aim: The study aimed to examine the hypothesis that advanced plaques with calcification are more stable
(lower proportion of lipid component and higher proportion of fibrous tissue) compared to plaques without
calcification.
Methods: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) specimens from 141 consecutive patients were studied. The
specimens were analyzed histologically for fibrous tissues, smooth muscle cells, macrophage, lymphocyte,
hemorrhage and lipid, according to the methods of European Carotid Plaque Study Group; plaques were also
graded according to American Heart Association (AHA) consensus and its modification. Clinical data was
recorded and the plasma concentrations of cholesterol and inflammatory markers were measured.
Results: Thirty five out of 141 plaque specimens were identified to have advanced atherosclerosis (type
V according to AHA criteria) and these were analyzed further. There were 29 type Va (non-calcified) plaques
and 6 type Vb (calcified) plaques. Calcified plaques had significantly less lipid than non-calcified plaques (p
< 0.0001): the mean percentage of lipid for non-calcified and calcified plaques was 61.29% and 23.48%,
respectively. Also calcified plaques had more fibrous tissue than non-calcified plaques (p = 0.004): the mean
percentage of fibrous tissue for non-calcified and calcified plaques was 23.74% and 59.37%, respectively
(P<0.0001). The 6 calcified plaques showed no inflammatory cell infiltrate and did not exhibit thin fibrous cap
atheroma which are the characteristics indicating high risk for plaque rupture.
Conclusion: Calcified plaques had significantly less lipid and more fibrous tissue than non-calcified
plaques. These findings might suggest indirectly that plaque calcification is a marker of plaque stability. This
may be a useful clinical tool to identify asymptomatic carotid stenosis patients with high risk plaques, which
could improve benefit of CEA.

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Published

2011-12-30

How to Cite

1.
Rerkasem K, Gallagher PJ, Grimble RF, Shearman CP. The Relationship between Carotid Plaque Calcification and Stability. Thai J Surg [Internet]. 2011 Dec. 30 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];32(4). Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ThaiJSurg/article/view/227309

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