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Thromb Haemost 2006; 96(01): 53-59
DOI: 10.1160/TH05-11-0772
Endothelium and Vascular Development
Schattauer GmbH

Endothelial dysfunction and systemic inflammation in persons with echolucent carotid plaques

Ann-Trude With Notø
1   Center for Atherothrombotic Research in Tromsø (CART), Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
,
Ellisiv Bøgeberg Mathiesen
2   Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
,
Jean Amiral
3   HYPHEN BioMed, Neuville-sur-Oise, France
,
Anne Marie Vissac
3   HYPHEN BioMed, Neuville-sur-Oise, France
,
John-Bjarne Hansen
1   Center for Atherothrombotic Research in Tromsø (CART), Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
› Author AffiliationsFinancial support: CART is supported by an independent grant from Pfizer AS. Ann-Trude With Notø was financed by a grant from Norwegian Health Association. Ellisiv B. Mathiesen was financed by a grant from the Norwegian Research Council.
Further Information

Publication History

Received 29 November 2005

Accepted after resubmission 11 June 2006

Publication Date:
29 November 2017 (online)

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Summary

Echolucent carotid plaques are associated with high risk for future ischemic cerebrovascular events independent of the degree of stenosis. Elevated levels of markers of systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction are predictors for future myocardial infarction and stroke.The present study was undertaken to investigate the relations between plaque morphology, endothelial dysfunction assessed by tissue-plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA ag) and von Willebrand factor (vWF), and systemic inflammation in persons with carotid stenosis.We conducteda crosssectional study including 133 persons with carotid stenosis and 138 controls without stenosis recruited from the populationbased Tromsø Study. High-resolution B-mode and colour Doppler/pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasonography of both carotid arteries was performed, and plaque morphology in terms of echogenicity was assessed. Persons with carotid stenosis had significantly higher plasma t-PA and vWF concentrations than controls. There was a significant inverse relationship between t-PA ag and plaque echogenicity (p=0.034).The increased plasma t-PA ag in persons with carotid stenosis was not associated with increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-I (PAI-1).Persons with echolucent carotid plaques had higher degree of systemic inflammation, and plasma t-PA and vWF concentration increased significantly across quartiles of WBC, fibrinogen, and hs-CRP. Our findings may suggest that plasma t-PA may be superior to vWF asa marker for endothelial dysfunction due to its ability to discriminate between various plaque echogenicity, and that the predictive role of t-PA ag in cardiovascular disease is independent of inhibited fibrinolysis.

Keywords

Atherosclerosis - ultrasound / diagnosis - von Willebrand factor - plasminogen activators - cerebrovascular disease

Footnote: Jean Amiral and Anne Marie Vissac are share-holders in Hyphen BioMed which produces and sells some of the kits used.


 

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