Relationship between Atherosclerotic Risk Factors and Aortic Plaques in Patients with First-ever Ischaemic Stroke

ObjectiveAortic plaque is considered a risk factor of ischaemic stroke, and both ulceration and plaque thickness are considered important. However, the relative importance of aortic plaque and carotid plaque remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to clarify the relation between aortic and carotid plaque lesions and atherosclerotic risk factors in patients with acute ischaemic stroke.MethodsWe enrolled 76 patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke, undergoing transoesophageal echocardiography, whose aetiology of ischaemic stroke was unknown. We divided the patients into two groups according to aortic plaque thickness, based on previous reports, i.e., a high-risk group (over 4 mm) and a low-risk group (less than 4 mm). We also examined several atherosclerotic risk factors.ResultsMean age, gender and hypertension was not significantly different between the low-risk and high-risk group. HDL-cholesterol (P < 0.01), LDL/HDL ratio (P < 0.05), non-HDL-cholesterol (P < 0.05), HbA1c (P < 0.05) and eGFR (P < 0.01) were significantly different between the two groups. Max plaque thickness in the carotid artery was correlated with aortic plaque lesions.ConclusionMultiple atherosclerotic risk factors are associated with greater aortic plaque lesions. Aortic plaque is important not only as an embolic source, but also as one of the atherosclerotic markers.