• Stijn C H van den Oord, Jurgen van der Burg, Zeynettin Akkus, Johan G Bosch, Ron T van Domburg, Sijbrands Eric J G EJG Division of Pharmacology, Vascular and Metabolic Diseases, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands., van der Steen Antonius F W AFW Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands., and Schinkel Arend F L AFL Dept. of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.schinkel@erasmusmc.nl..
• Dept. of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
• Atherosclerosis. 2014 Apr 1; 233 (2): 461-466.

ObjectiveAtherosclerosis is the main underlying cause of the majority of cardiovascular events. Although cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a major challenge in both males and females, gender specific differences in the prevalence of CVD have been observed. This may indicate that there are differences in the development of atherosclerosis between males and females. The presence of intraplaque neovessels (IPN) is an imaging marker for plaque vulnerability. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of gender on IPN.MethodsA total of 159 patients with ≥1 cardiovascular risk factor were included in this prospective study (mean age 56.9±8.7 years, 47% females). Patients had no symptoms of carotid atherosclerotic disease. All patients underwent a standard carotid ultrasound examination in conjunction with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). The presence of atherosclerotic plaques was assessed according to the Mannheim consensus. IPN was assessed using a visual grading scale and semi-automated quantification software.ResultsSubclinical atherosclerosis was detected using standard carotid ultrasound and CEUS in 64 females (86%) and in 79 males (93%) (p=0.177). The mean atherosclerotic plaque sizes were not significantly different (p=0.068). Semi-automated quantification of IPN demonstrated that females had significant more IPN compared to males (p<0.05). After adjustment for clinical variables this association remained significant (p<0.05).ConclusionIn this population at increased risk for CVD, females had significantly more IPN compared to males. This suggests that the females had a more vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque type.Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

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