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Abstract #3459

Decreased plaque microvasculature in symptomatic carotid plaques: a DCE-MRI study

Geneviève Crombag1,2, Raf van Hoof1, Floris Schreuder3, Martine Truijman4, Tobien Schreuder5, Narender van Orshoven6, Werner Mess2,7, Paul Hofman1, Robert van Oostenbrugge2,4, Joachim Wildberger1,2, and Eline Kooi1,2

1Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands, 2Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands, 3Department of Neurology & Donders Institute for Brain Cognition & Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands, 4Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands, 5Neurology, Zuyderland Medical Center, Sittard, Netherlands, 6Zuyderland Medical Center, Sittard, Netherlands, 7Clinical Neurophysiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands

Rupture of a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque can lead to thrombus formation and, subsequently, to ischemic events. Intraplaque microvessels are thought to play an important role in atherogenesis, since they may facilitate entrance of red blood cells and inflammatory cells into the plaque tissue due to increased endothelial permeability. Symptomatic patients underwent DCE-MRI to assess plaque microvasculature. A significantly lower vessel wall Ktrans was found in the symptomatic carotid plaque compared to the contralateral asymptomatic side. The decrease in vasa vasorum in the symptomatic plaques might be due to a higher amount of necrotic tissue on this side.

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