Aortic & peripheral vascular disease
High-risk atherosclerotic plaque features, covert brain infarcts, and cognitive performance: a cross-sectional analysis of the carotid artery multi-modality imaging prognostic study
Authors' conclusion
High-risk plaque features are frequent in patients with asymptomatic intermediate carotid disease and are associated with non-lacunar covert brain infarcts. Cognitive impairment was common in the cohort, although not associated with high-risk carotid plaque.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with asymptomatic 40–60% carotid artery stenosis by Doppler ultrasound
- Participants
- 155 patients
- Exposure
- High-risk carotid plaque features vs none
- Outcome
- Prevalence, clinical predictors, brain lesions and cognitive test scores of high-risk carotid plaque features (IPH, LRNC, plaque ulceration)
- Follow-up
- Baseline
Methodological detailscross-sectional analysis of baseline data of a prospective observational cohort (CAMP)
- Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data of a prospective observational cohort (CAMP)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Prevalence of high-risk plaque features
≥1 high-risk plaque feature (lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC), intraplaque haemorrhage (IPH), or ulcer)
51%
IPH
23%
LRNC
23%
Ulceration
38%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Clinical predictors
- High-risk plaque features: higher high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T and 3-vessel CAD
Brain lesions on MRI
- Non-lacunar brain infarcts (cortical and large >15 mm subcortical)
- 11%
- Markers of small vessel disease (lacunar infarcts or white matter hyperintensities)
- 71%
Association with non-lacunar brain infarcts
- Univariate: homolateral IPH, LRNC and ≥50% stenosis associated
- Multivariable (CV risk factors, stenosis): IPH and LRNC remained significantly associated
- Model with high-risk features and ≥50% stenosis: only high-risk plaque features remained significant
Cognitive test scores
- Low visuospatial and nonverbal memory scores common; tendency to poorer performance with high-risk features, not statistically significant
Original publication
High-risk atherosclerotic plaque features, covert brain infarcts, and cognitive performance: a cross-sectional analysis of the carotid artery multi-modality imaging prognostic study. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 2 February 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →