BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic plaques in the internal carotid artery are responsible for more than 15% of ischemic strokes. Carotid METHODS: Prospective study conducted in 53 patients with a recent ischemic stroke and at least one atherosclerotic plaque in both carotid arteries. All of the patients underwent an early carotid RESULTS: Multivariable linear regression analysis showed an independent association between sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 and mean SUVmax (CI=-0.064-0.325, p=0.004
CI=0.079-0.554, p=0.010). In addition, in bivariate regression analysis, sICAM-1 was associated with contralateral SUVmax (CI=0.049-0.382, p=0.012). Cox regression showed that mean SUVmax was associated with stroke recurrence (HR=5.604, p=0.044). CONCLUSIONS: sICAM-1 was independently associated with mean carotid plaque inflammation and with inflammation in contralateral plaque. sICAM-1 could be an indicator of plaque inflammation even in asymptomatic plaques.