Evaluation of the Correlation Between Distribution Location and Vulnerability of Carotid Plaque in Patients with Transient Ischemic Attack

Figures & data

Figure 1 Shows how each cross-section can be divided into four quadrants.

Figure 2 (a) Plaque ulcers; (b) Napkin ring sign; (c) Point calcification.

Table 1 Comparison of Patients’ Clinical Characteristics Between Two Groups of High and Low-Risk Plaques

	Mean±SD or n (%)		P
	High Risk (n=80)	Low Risk (n=68)
Gender, male	51 (63.7%)	40 (58.8%)	0.539
Age, y	68.37±8.03	69.32±8.81	0.402
BMI Kg/m^2	24.26	24.19	0.925
CHD	21(26.3%)	11(16.2%)	0.138
Blood glucose, mmol/L,	6.95±3.20	6.13±2.14	0.192
Low density protein, mmol/L	2.43±0.72	2.35±0.63	0.913
High density protein, mmol/L	1.13±0.30	1.09±0.24	0.657
Lipoprotein A, mmol/L	243.62±238.75	295.69±338.30	0.692
Triglyceride, mmol/L	4.45±1.09	4.29±0.98	0.699
Smoking history, proportion	46 (57.5%)	36 (52.9%)	0.578
Statin use	15(18.8%)	23(33.8%)	0.036

Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; BMI, body mass index; CHD, coronary heart disease.

Figure 3 Case screening flow chart.

Table 2 Differences in the Distribution Location and Characteristics Between Two Groups of High and Low-Risk Plaques (n, %)

	High Risk (n=80)	Low Risk (n=68)	Total	P
Distribution Location
Inner side wall,	20(25.0%)	15(22.1%)	35(23.6%)	0.675
Outer side wall	8(10.0%)	26(38.2%)	35(23.6%)	<0.01
Dorsal side wall	37(46.3%)	15(22.1%)	52(35.1%)	0.002
Ventral side wall	15(18.8%)	12(17.6%)	27(18.2%)	0.863
Total	80	68	148	<0.01
Characteristic			t/x^2	P
Rate	0.285±0.186	0.208±0.177	2.568	0.011
T	2.262±0.787	2.014±0.591	2.135	0.034
L	15.338±4.316	13.441±5.290	2.401	0.018
PA	10.380±3.290	7.872±6.592	2.850	0.005
PB	0.305±0.179	0.196±0.212	3.397	<0.01
RI	0.885±0.401	0.997±0.349	−1.806	0.073

Rate, Narrowing rate; T, Plaque thickness; L, Plaque length; PA, Maximum cross-sectional area of the plaque; PB, Plaque burden; RI, Positive Reconfiguration.

Table 3 Diagnostic Value of CTA Examination-Related Indicators for Vulnerability of Dorsal Side Wall Plaques

Dorsal Side Wall	High Risk (n=37)	Low Risk (n=15)	t/x^2	P
Rate	0.308±0.251	0.289±0.198	−0.277	0.783
T	2.285±0.765	1.827±0.737	2.277	0.045
L	16.108±4.575	10.867±4.502	3.759	<0.01
PA	10.354±3.529	7.227±7.619	2.525	0.038
PB	0.338±0.181	0.229±0.289	1.642	0.107
RI	0.916±0.506	0.979±0.402	−0.429	0.669

Abbreviations: Rate, Narrowing rate; T, Plaque thickness; L, Plaque length; PA, Maximum cross-sectional area of the plaque; PB, Plaque burden; RI, Positive Reconfiguration.

Figure 4 Shows the average CT values of plaques with different distribution locations in the high-risk plaque group, Error bars represent the mean with SEM (standard error of mean) of the four data sets. There was no statistical significance was analyzed using two-way ANOVA, (P>0.05).

Table 4 Logistic Regression Analysis of the Correlation of Distribution Location, T, L, PA with Vulnerability of Plaques

Variables	OR (95% CI)	P
Dorsal side wall	3.262 (1.522 ~ 6.991)	0.002
T	1.33 (0.764 ~ 2.313)	0.313
L	1.067 (0.988 ~ 1.153)	0.100
PA	1.08 (0.998 ~ 1.168)	0.055

Abbreviations: T, Plaque thickness; L, Plaque length; PA, Maximum cross-sectional area of the plaque.