Abstract 147: Plaque Inflammation is Associated With Early Cerebral Ischemic Events in Symptomatic Carotid Stenosis

Background and aims: Currently, the severity of the symptomatic carotid stenosis determines the treatment approach. However, it explains only the regional hypoperfusion as the mechanism of cerebral ischemia. Artery-to-artery embolisation remains an important pathogenic mechanism in patients with high-risk carotid plaques. Recently, inflammation has been proposed as the initiating event for plaque rupture and cerebral embolism. Using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (FDG-PET)/computed tomography (CT) and high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI), we investigated the role of plaque imaging and stroke recurrence in our cohort of patients with recently symptomatic carotid stenosis. Methods: This ongoing prospective study included consecutive patients within 30-days of recent stroke and ipsilateral carotid stenosis (≥50%). FDG uptake was quantified as mean standardized uptake values (SUV, g/ml). The ratio of T1 hyperintensity of carotid plaque to the ipsilateral sternocleidomastoid...