Assessment of neovascularization within carotid plaques in patients with ischemic stroke

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients with ischemic stroke and controls n (%)

Variables	Ischemic stroke (n = 81)	Controls (n = 95)	P value
Age (yr)	62 ± 9	61 ± 12	NS
Men	46 (57)	54 (57)	NS
Women	35 (43)	41 (43)	NS
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)	146 ± 24	143 ± 22	NS
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)	80 ± 15	78 ± 11	NS
Serum total cholesterol (mmol/L)	6.7 ± 1.3	6.5 ± 1.1	NS
Serum HDL cholesterol (mmol/L)	1.4 ± 0.4	1.3 ± 0.4	NS
Diabetes mellitus	6 (7)	7 (7)	NS
Smokers	26 (32)	30 (32)	NS
Percent carotid plaque area	74 ± 4	74 ± 6	NS

HDL: High-density lipoprotein; NS: Not significant.

Table 2 Inter- and intraobserver agreement for WT and IE

Perfusion measurement	Intraclass correlation	Mean difference	SD	Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement
WT (s)
Interobserver	0.75	-0.082	0.61	-1.27 to 1.11
Intraobserver	0.78	0.110	0.62	-1.11 to 1.34
IE (dB)
Interobserver	0.66	-0.073	0.53	-1.12 to 0.97
Intraobserver	0.81	-0.100	0.41	-0.91 to 0.70

WT: Wash-in time; IE: Intensity of enhancement; SD: 1 standard deviation.

Table 3 Carotid plaque enhancement in patients with ischemic stroke and in controls n (%)

Grade of plaque	Ischemic stroke (n = 81)	Controls (n = 95)	Rate of stroke (%)	P value
I	7 (9)	26 (27)	21
II	14 (17)	37 (39)	28
III	26 (32)	17 (18)	61	0.001a
IV	34 (42)	15 (16)	69	< 0.001b

^aP = 0.001 vs grade I and II;

^bP < 0.001 vs grade I and II. Grade I: Non-enhancement; Grade II: Arterial wall vasa vasorum enhancement; Grade III: Arterial wall vasa vasorum and plaque shoulder enhancement; Grade IV: Extensive and internal plaque enhancement.

Table 4 Contrast-enhanced findings in patients with ischemic stroke and in controls

Variable	Ischemic stroke (n = 74)	Controls (n = 69)	P value
Arrival time (s)	9.6 ± 2.1	9.8 ± 3.4	NS
Time to peak (s)	15.1 ± 3.7	15.6 ± 4.1	NS
WT (s)	5.3 ± 1.4	5.9 ± 1.3	< 0.05
Peak intensity (dB)	8.7 ± 2.7	8.6 ± 3.3	NS
Basal intensity (dB)	2.4 ± 1.0	2.5 ± 1.3	NS
Intensity of enhancement (dB)	6.6 ± 1.4	6.1 ± 1.1	< 0.01

Intensity of enhancement: Peak intensity minus basal intensity.