Abstract：
BACKGROUND: This study aims to determine how atherosclerotic plaque prevalence and characteristics vary between individuals residing year-round at middle and high altitudes who have intracranial atherosclerotic disease.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patient data from our hospital, focusing on individuals with cerebrovascular symptoms who underwent high-resolution vessel wall imaging (HR-VWI). Patients who had lived at an altitude of <2500 meters for an extended period were classified in group A (n = 91), while those residing at an altitude of ≥2500 meters were placed in group B (n = 75). We examined the differences in plaque prevalence and characteristics between these two groups.
RESULTS: The detection rate of basilar artery plaque was higher in group A compared to group B (16% vs. 7.6%, p = 0.036). Conversely, the detection rate of anterior cerebral artery plaque was significantly lower in group A than in group B (4% vs. 11.8%, p = 0.016). The eccentricity index (EI) was greater in group B than in group A (0.72 ± 0.11 vs. 0.68 ± 0.12, p = 0.012). The prevalence of intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) was lower in group B than in group A (39.5% vs. 58.7%, p = 0.002).
CONCLUSIONS: IPH prevalence was lower in patients residing at high altitudes than in those residing at middle altitudes. However, patients living at high altitudes had a higher EI compared to those residing at middle altitudes. These findings underscore the presence of disparities in the prevalence and characteristics of intracranial atherosclerotic plaques between individuals residing at medium and high altitudes. It is essential to account for these distinctions when diagnosing plaques.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patient data from our hospital, focusing on individuals with cerebrovascular symptoms who underwent high-resolution vessel wall imaging (HR-VWI). Patients who had lived at an altitude of <2500 meters for an extended period were classified in group A (n = 91), while those residing at an altitude of ≥2500 meters were placed in group B (n = 75). We examined the differences in plaque prevalence and characteristics between these two groups.
RESULTS: The detection rate of basilar artery plaque was higher in group A compared to group B (16% vs. 7.6%, p = 0.036). Conversely, the detection rate of anterior cerebral artery plaque was significantly lower in group A than in group B (4% vs. 11.8%, p = 0.016). The eccentricity index (EI) was greater in group B than in group A (0.72 ± 0.11 vs. 0.68 ± 0.12, p = 0.012). The prevalence of intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) was lower in group B than in group A (39.5% vs. 58.7%, p = 0.002).
CONCLUSIONS: IPH prevalence was lower in patients residing at high altitudes than in those residing at middle altitudes. However, patients living at high altitudes had a higher EI compared to those residing at middle altitudes. These findings underscore the presence of disparities in the prevalence and characteristics of intracranial atherosclerotic plaques between individuals residing at medium and high altitudes. It is essential to account for these distinctions when diagnosing plaques.
摘要：
背景：本研究旨在确定常年居住在中高海拔地区的颅内动脉粥样硬化患者之间动脉粥样硬化斑块患病率和特征的差异。
方法：我们对我院的患者资料进行了回顾性分析，重点关注接受高分辨率血管壁成像(HR-VWI)的有脑血管症状的个体.长期生活在海拔<2500米的患者被归类为A组（n=91），而居住在海拔≥2500米的人被置于B组（n=75）。我们检查了这两组之间斑块患病率和特征的差异。
结果：基底动脉斑块检出率A组高于B组（16%vs.7.6%,p=0.036)。相反，A组大脑前动脉斑块检出率明显低于B组(4%vs.11.8%,p=0.016)。B组的偏心指数（EI）大于A组（0.72±0.11vs.0.68±0.12，p=0.012）。B组的斑块内出血（IPH）患病率低于A组（39.5％vs.58.7%,p=0.002)。
结论：居住在高海拔地区的患者IPH患病率低于居住在中海拔地区的患者。然而,与居住在中海拔地区的患者相比，居住在高海拔地区的患者的EI更高。这些发现强调了居住在中高海拔地区的个体之间颅内动脉粥样硬化斑块的患病率和特征存在差异。在诊断斑块时，必须考虑这些区别。
方法：我们对我院的患者资料进行了回顾性分析，重点关注接受高分辨率血管壁成像(HR-VWI)的有脑血管症状的个体.长期生活在海拔<2500米的患者被归类为A组（n=91），而居住在海拔≥2500米的人被置于B组（n=75）。我们检查了这两组之间斑块患病率和特征的差异。
结果：基底动脉斑块检出率A组高于B组（16%vs.7.6%,p=0.036)。相反，A组大脑前动脉斑块检出率明显低于B组(4%vs.11.8%,p=0.016)。B组的偏心指数（EI）大于A组（0.72±0.11vs.0.68±0.12，p=0.012）。B组的斑块内出血（IPH）患病率低于A组（39.5％vs.58.7%,p=0.002)。
结论：居住在高海拔地区的患者IPH患病率低于居住在中海拔地区的患者。然而,与居住在中海拔地区的患者相比，居住在高海拔地区的患者的EI更高。这些发现强调了居住在中高海拔地区的个体之间颅内动脉粥样硬化斑块的患病率和特征存在差异。在诊断斑块时，必须考虑这些区别。
