Histological Assessment of 526 Symptomatic Carotid Plaques in Relation to the Nature and Timing of Ischemic Symptoms

Abstract

Pathology of recently symptomatic carotid plaques is similar to that of culprit coronary plaques, with strong correlations between macrophage infiltration and plaque instability. The tendency for plaque inflammation and overall instability to persist with time after a TIA but to decrease with time after a stroke suggests that the nature of the underlying pathology may differ.