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Cardiovascular Diabetology
Published in: Cardiovascular Diabetology 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Carotid Endarterectomy | Original investigation

The risk of carotid plaque instability in patients with metabolic syndrome is higher in women with hypertriglyceridemia

Authors: Francesca Servadei, Lucia Anemona, Marina Cardellini, Manuel Scimeca, Manuela Montanaro, Valentina Rovella, Francesca Di Daniele, Erica Giacobbi, Iacopo Maria Legramante, Annalisa Noce, Rita Bonfiglio, Patrizia Borboni, Nicola Di Daniele, Arnaldo Ippoliti, Massimo Federici, Alessandro Mauriello

Published in: Cardiovascular Diabetology | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

Metabolic syndrome certainly favors growth of carotid plaque; however, it is uncertain if it determines plaque destabilization. Furthermore, it is likely that only some components of metabolic syndrome are associated with increased risk of plaque destabilization. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of different elements of metabolic syndrome, individually and in association, on carotid plaques destabilization.

Methods

A total of 186 carotid endarterectomies from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were histologically analysed and correlated with major cardiovascular risk factors.

Results

Metabolic syndrome, regardless of the cluster of its components, is not associated with a significant increase in risk of plaque destabilization, rather with the presence of stable plaques. The incidence of unstable plaques in patients with metabolic syndrome is quite low (43.9 %), when compared with that seen in the presence of some risk factors, but significantly increases in the subgroup of female patients with hypertriglyceridemia, showing an odds ratio of 3.01 (95% CI, 0.25–36.30).

Conclusions

Our data may help to identify patients with real increased risk of acute cerebrovascular diseases thus supporting the hypothesis that the control of hypertriglyceridemia should be a key point on prevention of carotid atherosclerotic plaque destabilization, especially in post-menopausal female patients.
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Metadata
Title
The risk of carotid plaque instability in patients with metabolic syndrome is higher in women with hypertriglyceridemia
Authors
Francesca Servadei
Lucia Anemona
Marina Cardellini
Manuel Scimeca
Manuela Montanaro
Valentina Rovella
Francesca Di Daniele
Erica Giacobbi
Iacopo Maria Legramante
Annalisa Noce
Rita Bonfiglio
Patrizia Borboni
Nicola Di Daniele
Arnaldo Ippoliti
Massimo Federici
Alessandro Mauriello
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Cardiovascular Diabetology / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1475-2840
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12933-021-01277-8

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