Chinese Atherosclerosis Risk Evaluation (CARE II) study: a novel cross-sectional, multicentre study of the prevalence of high-risk atherosclerotic carotid plaque in Chinese patients with ischaemic cerebrovascular events—design and rationale

Abstract

Background

Carotid atherosclerotic plaque is identified as one of the main sources of ischaemic stroke. However, the prevalence of carotid high-risk atherosclerotic plaque in Chinese patients with ischaemic cerebrovascular events has been inconsistently reported and needs to be investigated in a large population.

Objectives

The primary objective of CARE II study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of high-risk features of atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid arteries in Chinese patients with recent ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemia attack (TIA). The relationship between carotid plaque features and cerebral infarcts, the differences of carotid plaque patterns among different regions of China and the gender specific characteristics of carotid plaque will be also determined.

Study design

The CARE II study will enrol 1000 patients with recent ischaemic stroke or TIA and carotid plaque from 13 hospitals and medical centres across China. In this cross-sectional, non-randomised, observational, multicentre study, all patients will undergo carotid artery MRI of bilateral carotid arteries and routine brain MRI with standardised protocols. The MRI will be interpreted at core reading centres to evaluate the characteristics of morphology and compositions of carotid plaque.

Conclusions

This is a cross-sectional, multicentre study to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of high-risk atherosclerotic carotid plaque in Chinese patients with stroke and TIA by using high-resolution MRI of vessel wall. This trial is sufficiently powered to demonstrate the prevalence of carotid high-risk plaque and to explore regional differences in Chinese patients who suffered stroke.

Trial registration number

NCT02017756.

Introduction

Stroke is the second most common cause of death and the third most common cause of disability worldwide.^{1 2} Carotid atherosclerotic plaque is identified as one of the main sources of ischaemic stroke. Fibrous cap rupture of atherosclerotic plaque is believed to be the key event that leads to thrombus formation and clinical events. Many recent studies have focused on the identification of features of ‘high-risk’ plaques that pose increased risk of rupture, especially using non-invasive in vivo imaging techniques. Histologically, major determinants of plaques prone to rupture include plaque compositional features, such as intraplaque haemorrhage (IPH) and large lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC).³ Carotid atherosclerotic plaque MRI (CMRI) is capable of accurately characterising plaque morphology and composition and is validated by histology.^4–6 Many recent studies have focused on the use of CMRI to evaluate carotid plaque features that predict future stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) in prospective settings.^7–9 Recently, two systematic reviews and meta-analyses summarised the key plaque features on CMRI that are associated with cerebrovascular events.^{10 11}

Recent findings about high-risk plaques suggest the need to include vessel wall imaging as part of carotid artery examination. The current clinical diagnosis of carotid atherosclerotic plaque, however, is based on the measurement of luminal stenosis by ultrasound and/or other angiographic imaging modalities.^{12 13} It is well established that stenosis measurement to decide carotid plaque severity and treatment options has many limitations.¹⁴ Angiographic imaging does not provide information of the pathological changes of the vessel wall and may underestimate the severity of atherosclerotic disease due to positive remodelling.¹⁵ For example, investigators found that more than 20% of carotid arteries with lower grade stenosis (<50% stenosis) had high-risk features, such as IPH and fibrous cap rupture,^{16 17} and these features can also occur in 8–9% of carotid arteries with normal lumen size.¹⁸ Recent studies have also suggested that a portion of cryptogenic strokes may actually be caused by carotid atherosclerotic plaque with moderate and/or minor stenosis.^{19 20}

CMRI, even though promising, remains an experimental procedure. Researchers in different institutions have used different approaches for CMRI. But in general, the commonly accepted approach is to include ‘multiple-contrast’ image acquisitions to provide comprehensive information of plaque morphology and composition.^{5 21 22} Despite many studies reporting the use of CMRI in relatively small or single-centre studies, there have been limited reports of using a single standardised imaging protocol in large multicentre studies to evaluate carotid atherosclerosis in a symptomatic population.

Stroke is the number one killer in China and there has been much attention directed to identify strokes that are caused by carotid atherosclerotic plaque.²³ Findings from these studies, have been inconsistent, however. A study by Jeng et al²⁴ reported that 13% of patients (48/367) with ischaemic stroke had severe carotid stenosis (>50% stenosis or occlusion). In contrast, Liu et al²⁵ showed that severe carotid stenosis could be seen in 41.7% of patients who suffered stroke. More interestingly, a pilot study by Saam et al²⁶ showed that carotid plaque composition differs between Chinese and American Caucasian symptomatic patients. In addition, the prevalence of cerebrovascular atherosclerotic disease may vary among different regions of China. A recent study has shown that the proportion of patients with severe intracranial atherosclerosis (stenosis >50%) was significantly higher in north China than in south China (50.2% vs 41.9%; p<0.0001).²⁷ However, the difference in carotid atherosclerotic plaque characteristics between patients in south and north areas of China is unclear. Thus, an imaging study to examine the carotid atherosclerotic plaque status in patients with recent stroke may provide critical information on the prevalence of carotid plaque and their compositional features and regional differences in China. This information will help to understand the natural status of carotid atherosclerotic plaque in patients who suffered stroke and to identify the best prevention and treatment options.

Methods

Carotid Atherosclerosis Risk Assessment (CARE II) study is conceived based on the needs to assess carotid atherosclerotic plaque in Chinese patients who recently suffered stroke and/or TIA using identical, state-of-the-art CMRI technique (NCT02017756). It is a cross-sectional, non-randomised, observational, multicentre study evaluating the carotid atherosclerotic plaque by CMRI in Chinese patients who suffered stroke. It is supported by funding from the Chinese government and by industrial partners. In collaboration with 13 medical centres and hospitals in China equipped with 3 T MRI scanner and with the Vascular Imaging Laboratory (VIL) of the University of Washington, this study intended to consecutively recruit 1000 patients with recent stroke or TIA and atherosclerotic plaque in at least one carotid artery, to undergo CMRI of bilateral carotid arteries and routine brain MRI. Core reading centres situated in the Center for Biomolecular Imaging Research (CBIR, Beijing, China) and VIL (Seattle, Washington, USA) conducted quantitative review of the carotid plaque, as detailed below.

This study intended to recruit patients in different regions of China using a single standardised CMRI protocol with centralised, blinded review and analysis. IRB approvals were obtained for the entire study and for each participating institution and all study participants provided written informed consent.

Study objectives

The primary objective of the CARE-II study is to determine the prevalence and characteristics of high-risk features of atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid arteries in Chinese patients with recent ischaemic stroke or TIA. Main secondary objectives are to evaluate: (1) the relationship between carotid plaque features and cerebral infarcts; (2) the differences of carotid plaque patterns among different regions of China, particularly south and north areas; (3) gender specific characteristics of carotid artery atherosclerotic disease in Chinese patients who suffered stroke.

Targeted population

This study intends to consecutively recruit 1000 patients with recent stroke or TIA (within 2 weeks after onsets of symptoms) and atherosclerotic plaque in at least one carotid artery determined by B-mode ultrasound scan (intima-media thickness ≥1.5 mm). The age of study population ranges from 18 to 80 years old. The exclusion criteria are as follows: (1) patients with evidence of cardiogenic stroke; (2) patients with haemorrhagic stroke; (3) history of radiation therapy in the neck; (4) claustrophobia; and (5) contraindication to MRI examination.

Patient recruitment and MRI

A flow chart of the study protocol is presented in figure 1. Hospitals and imaging centres must have a stroke unit, defined as a multidisciplinary team which has been designated for the care of patients who suffered stroke, and it must be equipped with a 3 T whole body MRI scanner capable of running the standardised carotid imaging protocol prescribed in the study. Hospitals distributed in the following regions were selected to investigate geographical differences in carotid plaque features of patients: Northeast, North, East, South and West areas (figure 2). Participating radiologists and MRI technologists were trained on image acquisition and quality evaluation by CBIR. Phantom and human volunteer scans were conducted at each participating site and evaluated by the core laboratory in CBIR for protocol adherence and image quality before recruitment of patients was allowed.

Figure 1.

Flow chart of study protocol. CBIR, Center for Biomolecular Imaging Research; VIL, Vascular Imaging Laboratory.

Figure 2.

Regional distribution of imaging sites across China.

All the MRI is performed on a 3.0 T MRI scanner with 8-channel phase array coil. In this multicentre study, an identical high resolution, multicontrast vessel wall imaging protocol is used for carotid plaque imaging. The imaging protocol includes three-dimensional (3D) time-of-flight (TOF), T1-weighted (T1-W) quadruple inversion recovery (QIR),²⁸ T2-weighted (T2-W) multislice double inversion recovery (MDIR),²⁹ and Magnetisation Prepared Gradient Recalled Echo (MP-RAGE) imaging sequences. The localisation of carotid plaque imaging is centred to the bifurcation of index carotid artery. A 3D imaging sequence of Motion sensitised driven Equilibrium prepared Rapid Gradient Echo (MERGE)³⁰ with large longitudinal coverage is also acquired for describing the distribution of atherosclerotic plaques in different segments of extracranial carotid arteries. The imaging parameters are detailed in table 1. In addition, a standard protocol including 3D TOF MR angiography (MRA), T2-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and diffusion-weighted image (DWI) sequences was used for brain imaging. Figures 3 and 4 show examples of carotid vessel wall images acquired.

Table 1.

Imaging parameters of CMRI

	Standardised multicontrast imaging protocol				3D sequence
	TOF	T1W	T2W	MP-RAGE	MERGE
Sequence	FFE	TSE	TSE	FFE	FFE
Black blood	None	QIR	MDIR		MSDE
Repeat time, ms	20	800	4800	8.8	10
Echo time, ms	4.9	10	50	5.3	4.8
Flip angle	20°	90°	90°	15°	6°
Field of view, cm	14×14	14×14	14×14	14×14	25×16×7
Matrix	256×256	256×256	256×256	256×256	356×357
Scan plane	axial	axial	axial	axial	coronal
Slice thickness, mm	1	2	2	1	0.7

FFE, Fast field echo; MDIR, multislice double inversion recovery; MP-RAGE, Magnetisation Prepared Gradient Recalled Echo; MSDE, Motion Sensitised Driven Equilibrium; TOF, time-of-flight; TSE, turbo spin echo; QIR, quadruple inversion recovery.

Figure 3.

Example of 2D multicontrast carotid vessel wall imaging protocol including TOF, T1W, T2W and MP-RAGE sequences. The lumen (*) and outer wall boundaries are well delineated on vessel wall images. A lipid-rich atherosclerotic lesion can be seen in the left common carotid artery (arrow). JV represents jugular vein. 2D, two-dimensional; MP-RAGE, Magnetisation Prepared Gradient Recalled Echo; TOF, time-of-flight; T1-W and T2-W, T1 and T2-weighted image.

Figure 4.

Example of 3D MERGE vessel wall imaging with large longitudinal coverage. The middle and the bilateral panels represent original MERGE image and left and right carotid artery images after curved reconstruction, respectively. 3D, three-dimensional; MERGE, Motion sensitised driven Equilibrium prepared Rapid Gradient Echo.

Clinical information collection

Clinical information is acquired from the medical records prior to carotid MRI for all patients. Demographic characteristics including age, gender, height and weight were recorded. History of hypertension (defined as diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg or systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg), diabetes, smoking, statin use and cardiovascular disease is collected. The levels of lipoprotein including high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol and triglycerides are recorded. In addition, the index artery which is defined as carotid arteries associated with symptoms is determined when such information is available.

Image interpretation

All MRI acquired from the image sites are transferred to the core laboratories of Center for Biomedical Imaging Research (CBIR) at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China and Vascular Imaging Laboratory (VIL) at University of Washington, Seattle, USA.

Carotid artery image review

The vessel wall images of bilateral carotid arteries are interpreted by trained reviewers with >3 years' experience in cardiovascular plaque imaging using custom-designed software (CASCADE; University of Washington, Seattle, USA). Each axial image is reviewed by two reviewers blinded to clinical information and brain image findings with consensus. The lumen and wall boundaries are outlined manually to measure the lumen area, wall area, total vessel area and wall thickness (WT) at each axial location. The presence or absence of calcification, LRNC, IPH and fibrous cap rupture is identified using the published criteria.^{5 31} The size of each plaque's compositional feature is also measured. The carotid 3D MERGE images are analysed at an MR workstation to measure the maximum WT of plaque in each segment of the carotid artery (common carotid artery, bulb, and internal carotid artery (ICA)) when present. Three-dimensional TOF MRA images are reconstructed by maximum intensity projection to measure the luminal stenosis of carotid arteries using North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) algorithm.³²

Brain image review

The intracranial 3D TOF MRA images are reconstructed by maximum intensity projection. The luminal stenosis is measured at each arterial segment using the following categories: 0%, 1–29%, 30–49%, 50–69%, 70–99% and 100% (occlusion) according to the WASID method.³³ The segments of intracranial arteries include intracranial ICA, middle cerebral artery, anterior cerebral artery, posterior cerebral artery and basilar artery. The volume and location of acute cerebral infarcts which are hyperintense on DWI images and white matter lesions (WML) which show hyperintense on FLAIR images are evaluated using custom-designed software. The severity of WML is stratified using a previously published method.³⁴

Statistical analysis and sample size considerations

To address the primary study objective, the prevalence of plaque components and features including calcification, LRNC, IPH and fibrous cap rupture will be estimated from the entire study sample and from important subgroups defined by gender, age and geographic region. Within the same groups, the distributions of carotid vessel morphology, including wall volume, per cent wall volume, maximum WT and maximum per cent wall area and volumes of components (calcification, LRNC and IPH) will be summarised using means and SDs as well as percentiles.

As part of the secondary objectives, plaque features and measurements will be compared between demographic and regional subgroups using logistic regression (for binary features) and other generalised linear models (for continuous measurements, which may be normally distributed or skewed). Multiple models will be considered, which will adjust for (1) gender and age; (2) gender, age and other traditional risk factors; and (3) gender, age, risk factors and plaque size. Similarly, multivariate logistic regression will be used to evaluate associations between the presence and absence of acute cerebral infarcts, WML or severe intracranial stenosis and carotid plaque features, while generalised linear models will be used to evaluate associations between acute infarct or WML volumes and carotid plaque features.

Based on the target sample size of 1000 and assuming a 10% loss rate due to missing data or image quality issues (final N=900), precision (95% CIs) for our prevalence estimates will be within ±3.3% in the full sample and ±7.7% in subgroups that are one-fifth the size of the full sample. All power calculations assumed two-sided tests with a significance level of 0.05. Calculations were performed using R (V.3.1.1, R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria) and GPower (V.3.1.9.2, University of Kiel, Germany).³⁵

Discussion

This is one the first multicentre studies targeting patients who have had recent stroke and TIA using a standardised CMRI. It is likely to provide critical information of the prevalence of carotid atherosclerotic plaque and its characteristics beyond luminal narrowing. Furthermore, this study will test the feasibility of using one multicontrast imaging protocol to evaluate carotid atherosclerosis in a multicentre setting and the usefulness of this protocol. Owing to the distribution of imaging centres across China, this study may also provide useful information of the differences in prevalence in carotid atherosclerosis in different regions and plaque compositional features regional dependencies.

The design incorporates centralised training, quality assurance, image review of both carotid and brain images, adds more confidence of the overall analysis.

Limitations

This is a cross-sectional study and the patient recruitment scheme does not rule out strokes potentially caused by intracranial atherosclerotic plaques or aortic arch disease. Although efforts are made to exclude patients with cardioembolic stroke, cardiogenic sources cannot be definitively ruled out. For example, not all patients currently undergo long-term monitoring for paroxysmal arrhythmias.

Conclusion

This is a cross-sectional, multicentre study to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of high-risk atherosclerotic carotid plaque in Chinese patients with stroke and TIA by using high-resolution vessel wall MRI. This trial is sufficiently powered to demonstrate the prevalence of carotid high-risk plaque and to explore regional differences in Chinese patients who suffered stroke.