Peripheral interventions

Near-infrared spectroscopy carotid plaque characteristics and cerebral embolism in carotid artery stenting

EuroIntervention 2021;17:599-606. DOI: 10.4244/EIJ-D-20-01050

Ichiro Nakagawa
Ichiro Nakagawa1, MD, PhD; Masashi Kotsugi1, MD; Hun Soo Park1, MD, PhD; Takanori Furuta1, MD; Fumiya Sato1, MD; Kaoru Myochin2, MD; Fumihiko Nishimura1, MD, PhD; Syuichi Yamada1, MD, PhD; Yasushi Motoyama1, MD, PhD; Hiroyuki Nakase1, MD, PhD
1. Department of Neurosurgery, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan; 2. Department of Radiology, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan

Background: Perioperative thromboembolism is the main consideration in carotid artery stenting (CAS). Precise evaluation of carotid plaque components is clinically important to reduce ischaemic complications since CAS mechanically pushes plaque outwards, which releases plaque debris into the bloodstream.

Aims: This study aimed to determine whether high lipid core plaque (LCP) assessed by catheter-based near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is associated with ipsilateral cerebral embolism by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging during CAS using a first-generation stent.

Methods: Carotid stenosis magnetic resonance (MR) T1-weighted plaque signal intensity ratio (T1W-SIR) followed by NIRS assessment at the time of CAS (using the carotid artery Wallstent) was performed in 117 consecutive patients.

Results: The maximum lipid core burden index (max-LCBI) at minimal luminal areas (MLA; max-LCBIMLA) and the max-LCBI for any 4 mm segment in a target lesion defined as max-LCBIarea were significantly higher for the post-procedural new ipsilateral diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI)-positive than negative patients (p<0.001 for all). There was a significant linear correlation between max-LCBIarea and the number of new emboli (r=0.544, p<0.0001). We also found that the second quantile (Q2) of T1W-SIRMLA had a significantly higher max-LCBIMLA and a higher incidence of DWI positivity than Q1 and Q3 (p<0.001 for all). Furthermore, max-LCBIMLA appeared to distinguish between patients with and without postoperative new ipsilateral DWI positivity (AUC 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86-0.96; p<0.0001).

Conclusions: High LCP assessed by NIRS is associated with cerebral embolism by diffusion-weighted imaging in CAS using a first-generation stent.

Sign in to read and download the full article

Forgot your password?

No account yet?
Sign up for free!

Create my pcr account

Join us for free and access thousands of articles from EuroIntervention, as well as presentations, videos, cases from PCRonline.com

carotid stentingischaemic strokemriother imaging modalitiesstroke
Interventions for strokeCarotid stenting
Read next article
Letter: When is the optimal time point for detecting malapposition in coronary bifurcation trials?

Latest news