RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 Imaging Biomarkers and Prevalence of Complex Aortic Plaque in Cryptogenic Stroke: A Systematic Review A1 Sakai, Yu A1 Cao, Quy A1 Rubin, Jeremy A1 Witsch, Jens A1 Cohen‐Addad, Dan A1 de Macedo Rodrigues, Katyucia A1 Coco Martín, María Begoña A1 Pasyar, Pouyan A1 Juega, Jesús A1 Fan, Zhaoyang A1 Kasner, Scott E. A1 Cucchiara, Brett L. A1 Song, Jae W. K1 aorta, atherosclerosis, biomarker, imaging, stroke AB BACKGROUND: Complex aortic plaque (CAP) is a potential embolic source in patients with cryptogenic stroke (CS). We reviewCAP imaging criteria for transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE), computed tomography angiography (CTA), and magneticresonance imaging and calculate CAP prevalence in patients with acute CS.METHODS AND RESULTS: PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched up to December 2022 in accordance with thePreferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline. Two independent reviewers extracted data onstudy design, imaging techniques, CAP criteria, and prevalence. The Cochrane Collaboration tool and Guideline for ReportingReliability and Agreement Studies were used to assess risk of bias and reporting completeness, respectively. From 2293studies, 45 were reviewed for CAP imaging biomarker criteria in patients with acute CS (N=37 TEE; N=9 CTA; N=6 magneticresonance imaging). Most studies (74%) used ≥4 mm plaque thickness as the imaging criterion for CAP although ≥1 mm (N=1,CTA), ≥5 mm (N=5, TEE), and ≥6 mm (N=2, CTA) were also reported. Additional features included mobility, ulceration, thrombus,protrusions, and assessment of plaque composition. From 23 prospective studies, CAP was detected in 960 of 2778patients with CS (0.32 [95% CI, 0.24–0.41], I2=94%). By modality, prevalence estimates were 0.29 (95% CI, 0.20–0.40; I2=95%)for TEE; 0.23 (95% CI, 0.15–0.34; I2=87%) for CTA and 0.22 (95% CI, 0.06–0.54; I2=92%) for magnetic resonance imaging.CONCLUSIONS: TEE was commonly used to assess CAP in patients with CS. The most common CAP imaging biomarker was≥4 mm plaque thickness. CAP was observed in one-third of patients with acute CS. However, high study heterogeneity suggestsa need for reproducible imaging methods. PB AHA Journals SN 2047-9980 YR 2023 FD 2023 LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/64440 UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/64440 LA eng NO J Am Heart Assoc. 2023 Dec 5;12(23) NO Producción Científica DS UVaDOC RD 12-jul-2024