Plaque Imaging in Routine Care to Detect Intraplaque Hemorrhage

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and the leading cause of permanent disability. Identifying the underlying etiology is crucial as secondary stroke prevention strategies vary depending on the cause of the stroke. However, in approximately 30% of patients, no clear etiology can be identified (cryptogenic stroke), preventing these patients from receiving targeted treatment.

Recent findings indicate that features of plaque vulnerability are associated with acute ischemic stroke which also applies to patients with cryptogenic stroke who have a carotid artery stenosis of less than 50%. Features of plaque vulnerability can be assessed by high-resolution carotid magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which enables noninvasive detailed characterization of atherosclerotic carotid artery plaques. Hence, plaque imaging allows to detect vulnerable plaques and to further stratify stroke etiology. In addition, plaque imaging may identify patients with vulnerable plaques who are at risk for a recurrent ischemic stroke or TIA.

However, integrating multisequence high-resolution, contrast-enhanced MRI into the standard diagnostic workflow of acute stroke would prove difficult, thus calling for simpler imaging protocols. Unlike other features of plaque vulnerability, intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) can be reliably detected by standard coils and conventional native black-blood fat-saturated T1-weighted sequences. Given the frequency of IPH, previous study results, and additional literature evidencing the importance of IPH as a marker for plaque vulnerability and risk of stroke recurrence, a single black-blood fat-saturated T1-weighted sequence was added to the MR imaging protocol for the diagnostic work-up of stroke patients at LMU hospital.

Patients with acute ischemic stroke, who received non-contrast carotid MRI for routine diagnostic work-up, will be asked whether they are willing to participate in a prospective, longitudinal study with telephone follow-up to assess recurrent ischemic stroke or TIA. In addition, this study will analyse retrospectively obtained data collected through clinical routine. These analyses will be done on all patients who received non-contrast carotid MRI for routine diagnostic work-up over the last years. This approach allows to estimate the prevalence of IPH in an unselected patient population.

In principle, the detection of IPH points towards the presence of an increased plaque vulnerability. However, it is unknown whether IPH can be reliably detected on routine clinical scans and whether information on the presence or absence of IPH should influence clinical decision making. Depending on the results, the outcome of this study might benefit future generations of patients by improving the diagnostic assignment to a specific stroke etiology and risk assessment with respect to recurrent vascular events.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with acute ischemic stroke
• Availability of non-contrast carotid MRI scans obtained through routine diagnostic work-up

Exclusion criteria

• Infarct in the posterior circulation or bilateral ischemic infarcts
• Time between symptom onset and non-contrast carotid MRI > 10 days
• Prior stenting of a carotid artery or carotid endarterectomy
• Age < 18 years
• Life expectancy < 1 year
• Inability to provide written informed consent

This eligibility criteria apply for the prospective part of the PARADE study.