Wanqun Yang MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Biao Huang MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Chang Hong Liang MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To assess the enhancement feature of intracranial atherosclerotic plaque in the vessel supplying the territory of infarction by using high-resolution MR imaging. To analyze the correlation between the strength of enhancement, elapsed time and concentration of hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).

Wall characteristic of 81 patients with ischemic stroke and intracranial vascular stenoses was analyzed. All subjects were imaged with HR-MRI for plaque on a 3.0 T MRI scanner. All subjects were classified as early stage (＜4 weeks from acute stroke to MR examination, n=58), middle stage (4–12 weeks, n=13) and late stage (＞12 weeks, n=10). The wall characteristic, presence and strength of enhancement of atherosclerotic plaque were assessed and the concentration of hs-CRP was tested. The Kruskal-Wallis H test and the Spearman correlation were used.

Fifty-five (55/81) plaques were located at the M1 segments, and the other 26 (26/81) plaques at the basilar artery. The strength and presence of enhancement from strong to none were 29, 25 and 4 in the early stage; 4, 6 and 3 in the middle stage and 0，4，6 in the late stage, respectively. The strength and presence of enhancement was significant different among them（H =16.934，P ＜0.01）. There was a remarkable trend of decreasing strength and presence of enhancement of the atherosclerotic plaque relative to increasing time after the ischemic event（r =－0.792，P ＜0.01）. The serum hs-CRP concentration for early, middle and late stage were 7.0（3.0, 13.0）mg/L、2.27（1.0, 3.03）mg/L and 1.88（0.50, 4.0）mg/L (H =14.345，P ＜0.01), respectively. There was a trend of decreasing hs-CRP concentration relative to the time elapsed（r =-0.357，P =0.000）. The enhancements of the plaques were parallel with levels of hs-CRP（r =0.526，P =0.000）

Enhanced HR-MRI scanning may clearly demonstrate the enhancement characteristic of intracranial atherosclerotic plaques as an indicator of inflammation. It would play an important role to detect risk factors for intracranial plaque rupture and subsequent acute ischemic stroke.

Enhanced HR-MRI scanning would play an important role to detect risk factors for intracranial plaque rupture and subsequent acute ischemic stroke.

Yang, W, Huang, B, Liang, C, Intracranial Atherosclerotic Plaque Enhancement Using High-resolution MR Imaging in Patients with Ischemic Stroke.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14013510.html