Changes in intra- and extracranial carotid plaque calcification: a 2-year follow-up study

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 13; no. 1; p. 8384
• Main Authors: Zadi, T., van Dam-Nolen, D. H. K., Aizaz, M., van der Kolk, A. G., Nederkoorn, P. J., Hendrikse, J., Kooi, M. E., van der Lugt, A., Bos, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 24.05.2023; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 692/699/75/593/1353; 692/699/75/593/2193; Aged; Antihypertensives; Calcification; Calcification (ectopic); Calcification, Physiologic; Calcinosis - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Arteries; Carotid artery; Carotid Artery Diseases; Cohort Studies; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Male; multidisciplinary; Plaque, Amyloid; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Stenosis
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34223-7

Extra- and intracranial carotid plaque calcification might have plaque-stabilizing effects, yet information on changes in plaque calcification remains scarce. We evaluated changes in carotid plaque calcification over 2 years follow-up in patients with symptomatic carotid artery disease. This study is based on the PARISK-study, a multicenter cohort study, with TIA/minor stroke patients with ipsilateral mild-to-moderate carotid artery stenosis (< 70%). We included 79 patients (25% female, mean age 66 years) who underwent CTA imaging with 2 year interval. We assessed the volume of extra- and intracranial carotid artery calcification (ECAC and ICAC) and calculated the difference between baseline and follow-up ECAC and ICAC volume. We performed multivariable regression analyses to investigate the association between change of ECAC or ICAC with cardiovascular determinants. ECAC. We found increase (46.2%) and decrease (34%) in ECAC volume during 2 year follow-up, both significantly correlation with baseline ECAC volume (OR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.58–0.90 respectively OR = 2.24, 95% CI 1.60–3.13).We found significant correlation for change in ECAC volume with diabetes (β = 0.46, 95% CI 0.03–0.89) and baseline ECAC volume (β = 0.81, 95% CI 0.73–0.88). ICAC. We found increase (45.0%) and decrease (25.0%) in ICAC volume. The ICAC decrease was significantly correlated with baseline ICAC volume (OR = 2.17, 95% CI 1.48–3.16), age (OR = 2.00, 95% CI 1.19–3.38) and use of antihypertensive drugs (OR = 3.79, 95% CI 1.20–11.96]).The overall change of ICAC volume was also significantly correlated with diabetes (β = 0.92, 95% CI 1.59–7.02), use of oral hypoglycemic drugs (β = 0.86, 95% CI 0.12–1.59) and baseline ICAC volume (β = 0.71, 95% CI 0.55–0.87). We provide novel insights into the dynamics of carotid plaque calcification in symptomatic stroke patients.