New risk factor for another stroke
A research team reported a few years ago that so-called complicated Plaques in the carotid artery a Risk factor for one stroke are. It has now been found that such plaques also increase the risk of another cerebral infarction.
So-called complicated plaques in the carotid artery are an important risk factor for a second stroke. A team of doctors from the LMU Klinikum Munich, led by Prof. Dr. Martin Dichgans and Prof. Dr. Tobias Saam found out in a study. The study results were published in the journal “Journal of the American College of Cardiology” released.
Complicated plaques in the carotid artery
Like it in one Message of the Munich University Hospital, stroke is a growing medical problem worldwide.
In Germany alone, 260,000 to 280,000 people suffer a stroke every two to three minutes. Stroke is the leading cause of permanent disability and the second leading cause of death following heart attack. In up to 30 percent of cases, the cause of a stroke remains unexplained, even with detailed diagnostics.
The team from the LMU Klinikum, together with colleagues from the Universities of Freiburg and Tübingen and the Technical University of Munich, had already reported on a risk factor for stroke in 2020: so-called complicated plaques in the carotid artery.
Their results were also published in the “Journal of the American College of Cardiology“ published.
Renewed circulatory disturbance of the brain
Plaques, deposits on the inner walls of blood vessels, are a conglomerate of fat and inflammatory cells surrounded by an outer covering (cap). Where they arise, they increasingly constrict the blood vessels. However, plaque components can also be detached, which reach the brain via the bloodstream and block blood vessels there.
The surrounding tissue then dies from the lack of oxygen, leading to the symptoms of a stroke.
Complicated plaques in the carotid artery are high-risk plaques characterized by at least one of the following: first, a ruptured cap, second, bleeding into the plaque, and third, a blood clot hanging externally to the plaque.
The doctors have now recruited 196 patients who had suffered a stroke. Her fate was traced over three years. The researchers’ question: Which study participants would suffer another circulatory disorder of the brain – and might the complicated plaques be a reason for this?
144 patients stayed on until the end of the three years. In some cases, however, data from the “dropouts” was also included in the evaluation, for example if they suffered another stroke following a year and were then no longer able or unwilling to take part in the study, explains Dr. Anna Kopczak, first author of the study.
Further study planned
It was found that patients with a complicated plaque have a 2.5-fold increased risk of another stroke or a “transient ischemic attack”, or TIA for short, compared to those without such a complicated plaque.
TIAs are circulatory disorders in the brain in which the nerve cells only temporarily suffer from a lack of oxygen and ultimately do not perish.
like dr Kopczak explains, the experts can identify which patients are particularly at risk of having another stroke. “And behind that is the most important question: Do we have to treat these people differently? Should these patients be given different medications or a higher dosage? Should the plaque be surgically removed?”
To answer this question, the LMU doctors are planning a corresponding study. There is already a surgical method for surgical removal. This is used for patients with plaques that narrow a blood vessel by more than 50 percent.
However, patients with a complicated plaque, as in the current Munich study, may also benefit, none of whom have severe narrowing. (ad)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the specifications of medical specialist literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
Important NOTE:
This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.