TY - JOUR
T1 - Predominance of nonatherosclerotic internal elastic lamina calcification in the intracranial internal carotid artery
AU - Vos, Annelotte
AU - van Hecke, Wim
AU - Spliet, Wim G. M.
AU - Goldschmeding, Roel
AU - Isgum, Ivana
AU - Kockelkoren, Remko
AU - Bleys, Ronald L. A. W.
AU - Mali, Willem P. T. M.
AU - de Jong, Pim A.
AU - Vink, Aryan
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - Background and Purpose - Calcification of the intracranial internal carotid artery (iICA) is an independent risk factor for stroke. These calcifications are generally seen as manifestation of atherosclerosis, but histological investigations are limited. The aim of this study is to determine whether calcifications in the iICA are present in atherosclerotic plaques, or in other parts of the arterial wall. Methods - Thirty-nine iICAs were histologically assessed, using digital microscopy to quantify the amount of calcification in the different layers of the arterial wall. Results - Calcifications were found in the intima, around the internal elastic lamina and in the medial layer of the arterial wall. In 71% of the arteries, internal elastic lamina calcification contributed most to the total calcified cross-sectional surface area. Internal elastic lamina calcification was unrelated to the occurrence of atherosclerotic intimal lesions. Intimal calcifications were most often associated with atherosclerotic lesions, but also many noncalcified atherosclerotic lesions were found. Conclusions - In the iICA, calcifications are predominantly present around the internal elastic lamina, suggesting that this nonatherosclerotic type of calcification contributes to the previously observed increased risk of stroke in patients with iICA calcifications.
AB - Background and Purpose - Calcification of the intracranial internal carotid artery (iICA) is an independent risk factor for stroke. These calcifications are generally seen as manifestation of atherosclerosis, but histological investigations are limited. The aim of this study is to determine whether calcifications in the iICA are present in atherosclerotic plaques, or in other parts of the arterial wall. Methods - Thirty-nine iICAs were histologically assessed, using digital microscopy to quantify the amount of calcification in the different layers of the arterial wall. Results - Calcifications were found in the intima, around the internal elastic lamina and in the medial layer of the arterial wall. In 71% of the arteries, internal elastic lamina calcification contributed most to the total calcified cross-sectional surface area. Internal elastic lamina calcification was unrelated to the occurrence of atherosclerotic intimal lesions. Intimal calcifications were most often associated with atherosclerotic lesions, but also many noncalcified atherosclerotic lesions were found. Conclusions - In the iICA, calcifications are predominantly present around the internal elastic lamina, suggesting that this nonatherosclerotic type of calcification contributes to the previously observed increased risk of stroke in patients with iICA calcifications.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=84952631287&origin=inward
UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26514193
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.011196
DO - https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.011196
M3 - Article
C2 - 26514193
SN - 0039-2499
VL - 47
SP - 221
EP - 223
JO - Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
JF - Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
IS - 1
ER -