Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32904369›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of cardiology. Heart & vasculature2020

Extent and characteristics of carotid plaques and brain parenchymal loss in asymptomatic patients with no indication for revascularization.

Enrico Ammirati, Francesco Moroni, Marco Magnoni, Maria A Rocca, Roberta Messina, Nicoletta Anzalone, Costantino De Filippis, Isabella Scotti, Francesca Besana, Pietro Spagnolo and 5 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of cardiology. Heart & vasculature, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 34% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Enrico AmmiratiVita-Salute University and San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Francesco MoroniVita-Salute University and San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Marco MagnoniVita-Salute University and San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Maria A RoccaVita-Salute University and Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, and Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Roberta MessinaVita-Salute University and Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, and Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Nicoletta AnzaloneVita-Salute University and Department of Neuroradiology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Costantino De FilippisVita-Salute University and Department of Neuroradiology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Isabella ScottiDepartment of Rheumatology, Istituto Ortopedico Gaetano Pini, Milan, Italy.
Francesca BesanaCardiovascular Prevention Center, San Raffaele Institute, Milan, Italy.
Pietro SpagnoloCardiovascular Prevention Center, San Raffaele Institute, Milan, Italy.
Ornella E RimoldiCNR IBFM, Segrate, Italy.
Roberto ChiesaVita-Salute University and San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Andrea FaliniVita-Salute University and Department of Neuroradiology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Massimo FilippiVita-Salute University and Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, and Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Paolo G CamiciVita-Salute University and San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University · ITInstitute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology · ITIRCCS Policlinico San Donato · ITIstituto Ortopedico Gaetano Pini · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

aimsExtent of subclinical atherosclerosis has been associated with brain parenchymal loss in community-dwelling aged subjects. Identification of patient-related and plaque-related markers could identify subjects at higher risk of brain atrophy, independent of cerebrovascular accidents. Aim of the study was to investigate the relation between extent and characteristics of carotid plaques and brain atrophy in asymptomatic patients with no indication for revascularization. METHODS AND

resultsSixty-four patients (aged 69 ± 8 years, 45% females) with carotid stenosis <70% based on Doppler flow velocity were enrolled in the study. Potential causes of cerebral damage other than atherosclerosis, including history of atrial fibrillation, heart failure, previous cardiac or neurosurgery and neurological disorders were excluded. All subjects underwent carotid computed tomography angiography, contrast enhanced ultrasound for assessment of plaque neovascularization and brain magnetic resonance imaging for measuring brain volumes. On multivariate regression analysis, age and fibrocalcific plaques were independently associated with lower total brain volumes (β = -3.13 and β = -30.7, both p < 0.05). Fibrocalcific plaques were also independently associated with lower gray matter (GM) volumes (β = -28.6, p = 0.003). On the other hand, age and extent of carotid atherosclerosis were independent predictors of lower white matter (WM) volumes.

conclusionsWM and GM have different susceptibility to processes involved in parenchymal loss. Contrary to common belief, our results show that presence of fibrocalcific plaques is associated with brain atrophy.

Indexed as

Brain atrophyBrain magnetic resonance imagingBrain volumesCardiovascular risk factorsCarotid atherosclerosisCC-IMT, common carotid intima media thicknessCEUS, contrast enhanced ultrasoundCV, cardiovascularGFR, glomerular filtration rateGM, gray matterTBV, total brain volumeTPA, total plaque areaVulnerable plaqueWM, white matter

Identifiers

PMID32904369
PMCPMC7452655
OpenAlexW3081258101

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.