Atherosclerotic carotid disease, the vulnerable plaque in the vulnerable patient

Atherosclerotic carotid disease can lead to a stroke.
For tailor made patient selection, it is necessary to determine whether the local atherosclerrotic plaque is a so called vulnerable plaque.
With molecular imaging we examined the role of MMP in the pathobiological process of atherosclerose.
Next to plaque factors, patient factors can determine outcome after carotid surgery.
We investigated the role of the cluster of risk factors in Metabloic Syndrome.
In our studies, Metabolic Syndrome has no influence in outcome after carotid surgery.