Diabetes and hyperlipidemia increase diffusionweighted imaging lesion risk during invasive therapy of the carotid artery.

According to recent research published in the journal Neurological Research, “Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) abnormalities can frequently be detected after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid angioplasty with stent placement (CAS) of the carotid arteries. We looked for possible predictors for the development of DWI lesions during the intervention.”

H. Poppert and colleagues working with the Technical University of Munich “investigated 41 patients who underwent CAS without protection devices and 93 patients who underwent CEA. DWI studies were performed 1 day before and after the intervention.”

They determined, “Ischemic complications consisted of two strokes (2.2%) in the CEA group and one stroke (2.4%) in the CAS group. DWI lesions were detected in 28.0% of all patients after intervention. Using a multivariate regression analysis, diabetes mellitus (DM), hyperlipidemia, symptomatic stenosis, age and CAS were found to be significant predictors for the occurrence of DWI lesions.”

The researchers concluded, “DWI is an objective and highly sensitive method for monitoring interventions of the carotid arteries. Our results point to an increased risk of patients with diabetes and hyperlipidemia to develop DWI lesions during invasive therapy of the ICA.”

Poppert and colleagues published their study in Neurological Research (MRI lesions after invasive therapy of carotid artery stenosis: a risk-modeling analysis. Neurol Res, 2006;28 (5):563-567).

For additional information, contact H. Poppert, Technical University of Munich, Neurology Klin, Klinikum Rechts Isar, Moehlstr 28, D-81675 Munich, Germany.

The publisher’s contact information for the journal Neurological Research is: Maney Publishing, Hudson Rd., Leeds LS9 7DL, England.