Αθηρωματική νόσος καρωτίδων : υπερηχογραφική και βιοχημική προσέγγιση
Λεχαρέας Συμεών
(EL)
Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and
characterization of vulnerable
carotid plaque remains the spearhead of scientific research. Plaque
destabilization, the key factor that induces
the series of events leading to the clinical symptoms of carotid artery
disease, is a consequence of complex mechanical,
structural and biochemical processes. Novel imaging and molecular markers have
been studied as predictors
of disease outcome with promising results. The aim of this review is to present
the current state of research on the
association between ultrasound-derived echogenicity indices and blood
parameters indicative of carotid plaque
stability and activity. Bibliographic research revealed that there are limited
available data. Among the biomarkers
studied, those related to oxidative stress, lipoproteins and diabetes/insulin
resistance are associated with echolucent
plaques, whereas adipokines are associated with echogenic plaques. Biomarkers
of inflammation and coagulation
have not exhibited any conclusive relationship with plaque echogenicity, and it
is not possible to come to any
conclusion regarding calcification-, apoptosis- and neo-angiogenesis-related
parameters because of the extremely
limited bibliographic data
(EN)
