Serum level of MMP-9 Is Associated with the Risk of Intracranial Major Vessel Atherosclerosis in Patients with Carotid Atherosclerosis

• Published in: The St. Marianna Medical Journal Vol. 48; no. 3; pp. 101 - 108
• Main Authors: Soga, Kaima, Shimizu, Takahiro, Iijima, Naoki, Takao, Naoki, Tsuchihashi, Yoko, Shibata, Soichiro, Ogura, Hana, Hagiwara, Yuta, Kuwata, Chihiro, Sasaki, Naoshi, Akiyama, Hisanao, Hasegawa, Yasuhiro, Yamano, Yoshihisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: St. Marianna University Society of Medical Science 2020
• ISSN: 0387-2289; 2189-0285
• DOI: 10.14963/stmari.48.101

Background In patients with extracranial carotid atherosclerotic disease (ECAD), comorbid intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) causes high stroke recurrence and mortality rates. We hypothesized that the properties of carotid atherosclerosis are related to the risk of ICAD; however, this hypothesis has not been confirmed. Therefore, we aim to clarify the factors associated with the risk of ICAD in patients with carotid artery stenosis by measuring the properties of carotid atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis-related biomarkers. Materials & Methods A total of 50 patients with atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis were included in the study. ICAD was defined as stenosis of 50% or greater, affecting the large intracranial arteries on magnetic resonance angiography. The associations between carotid atherosclerosis properties measured via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) black blood method, ultrasonography, and arteriosclerosis-related biomarkers (oxidized LDL, LOX-1, MPO, PTX3, MMP-9, hsCRP) were examined using univariate analysis between patients with and without ICAD. Results ICAD was detected in 15 of 50 patients (30%), all of whom had middle cerebral artery stenosis. Univariate analysis revealed associations between ICAD and the MMP9 value (p=0.03) and the high-sensitivity CRP value (p=0.02). Conclusion In patients with atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis, the serum MMP-9 level was associated with the risk of ICAD while other markers of atheromatous plaques, detected by MRI and carotid ultrasonography, were not. These results may suggest a role for MMP-9 in the progression of ICAD.