Study of Ficolin-2 Levels and Inflammation in Brain and Carotid Artery Plaques in Adults with Symptomatic Carotid Stenosis

What this Trial Is About

Carotid artery stenosis affects about 3% of people aged 60 and over and contributes to 10-20% of ischemic strokes. The risk of stroke is influenced not only by the degree of artery narrowing but also by the type of plaque present. Researchers are studying the role of ficolin-2, a protein involved in the bodys immune response, as a potential biomarker to identify vulnerable plaques and brain inflammation in patients with transient ischemic attack or acute ischemic stroke caused by carotid stenosis. The study involves patients with at least 50% carotid artery stenosis who have experienced recent ischemic events. Each participant will undergo a blood test to measure plasma levels of ficolin-2 and a combined positron emission tomography PET and magnetic resonance imaging MRI scan using the 18FDPA-714 radiotracer to detect inflammation in the carotid artery plaque and brain. The imaging and blood tests will be performed around day 5 after the ischemic event. Participants will be monitored through these imaging and blood assessments to evaluate the correlation between ficolin-2 levels and inflammation in the brain and carotid artery plaque. Researchers will also analyze MRI data at day 5 and day 15 to observe morphological changes. The main outcome is to understand how ficolin-2 relates to plaque and brain inflammation, which may help identify patients at higher risk of stroke. The study is expected to continue until the end of 2026.

Plaque and Brain Inflammation in Symptomatic Carotid Stenosis: Role of the Ficolin-2