Plaque characteristics and biomarkers predicting regression and progression of carotid atherosclerosis

The factors that influence the atherosclerotic disease process in high-risk individuals remain poorly understood. Here, we used a combination of vascular imaging, risk factor assessment, and biomarkers to identify factors associated with 3-year change in carotid disease severity in a cohort of high-risk subjects treated with preven-tive therapy (n = 865). The results show that changes in intima-media thickness (IMT) are most pronounced in the carotid bulb. Progression of bulb IMT demonstrates independent associations with baseline bulb IMT, the pla-que gray scale median (GSM), and the plasma level of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) (standardized b -co-efficients and 95% confidence interval [CI]-0.14 [-0.06 to-0.02] p = 0.001, 0.15 [0.02-0.07] p = 0.001, and 0.20 [0.03-0.07] p < 0.001, respectively). Plasma PDGF correlates with the plaque GSM (0.23 [0.15-0.29] p < 0.001). These observations provide insight into the atherosclerotic process in high-risk subjects by showing that pro-gression primarily occurs in fibrotic plaques and is associated with increased levels of PDGF.

Automated summary

This study used a combination of vascular imaging, risk factor assessment, and biomarkers to identify factors associated with changes in carotid disease severity in high-risk subjects. The results show that changes primarily occur in fibrotic plaques and are associated with increased levels of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF).