Relationship between fibroblast growth factor in plasma and carotid plaque neovascularization: a pilot study

Autor: Mahtab Zamani, Karolina Skagen, Beate Lindberg, Vigdis Bjerkeli, Pål Aukrust, Bente Halvorsen, Mona Skjelland
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Frontiers in Immunology, Vol 15 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1664-3224
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1385377
Popis: BackgroundUnstable atherosclerotic carotid plaques with intraplaque neovascularization (IPN) carry a substantial risk for ischemic stroke. Conventional ultrasound methods fall short in detecting IPN, where superb microvascular imaging (SMI) has emerged as a promising tool for both visualizing and quantification. High levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) have, in observational studies, been suggested as related to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The association of FGF-23 to atherosclerotic carotid plaque instability remains relatively unexplored.MethodsA cohort of twenty-nine patients with ≥50% atherosclerotic carotid stenosis underwent conventional carotid ultrasound, SMI, and blood tests, including measurement of FGF-23 in plasma. Nineteen patients were characterized as symptomatic and ten as asymptomatic.ResultsOur major findings were: i) Higher FGF-23 levels were strongly correlated with increased SMI-assessed IPN. ii) Neo-vessel count recorded by quantitative SMI was positively correlated to increased FGF-23 levels, but not with basic FGF levels. (iii) In contrast, traditional risk factors for plaque instability exhibited no noteworthy associations with SMI-assessed IPN or with FGF-23 levels.ConclusionThis pilot study suggest the potential of FGF-23 as a valuable marker for neovascularization and atherosclerotic carotid plaque instability as a risk factor for ischemic stroke. Further research involving larger cohorts and prospective data is necessary to understand FGF-23’s role in this context comprehensively.
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