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Background: Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are emerging as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease in preclinical studies. Direct evidence that this risk extends to humans is lacking., Methods: We conducted a prospective, multicenter, observational study involving patients who were undergoing carotid endarterectomy for asymptomatic carotid artery disease. The excised carotid plaque specimens were analyzed for the presence of MNPs with the use of pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, stable isotope analysis, and electron microscopy. Inflammatory biomarkers were assessed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemical assay. The primary end point was a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from any cause among patients who had evidence of MNPs in plaque as compared with patients with plaque that showed no evidence of MNPs., Results: A total of 304 patients were enrolled in the study, and 257 completed a mean (±SD) follow-up of 33.7±6.9 months. Polyethylene was detected in carotid artery plaque of 150 patients (58.4%), with a mean level of 21.7±24.5 μg per milligram of plaque; 31 patients (12.1%) also had measurable amounts of polyvinyl chloride, with a mean level of 5.2±2.4 μg per milligram of plaque. Electron microscopy revealed visible, jagged-edged foreign particles among plaque macrophages and scattered in the external debris. Radiographic examination showed that some of these particles included chlorine. Patients in whom MNPs were detected within the atheroma were at higher risk for a primary end-point event than those in whom these substances were not detected (hazard ratio, 4.53; 95% confidence interval, 2.00 to 10.27; P<0.001)., Conclusions: In this study, patients with carotid artery plaque in which MNPs were detected had a higher risk of a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from any cause at 34 months of follow-up than those in whom MNPs were not detected. (Funded by Programmi di Ricerca Scientifica di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05900947.)., (Copyright © 2024 Massachusetts Medical Society.)

Primary aortic occlusion (PAO) is defined as acute occlusion in the absence of aortic atherosclerosis or aneurysm. PAO is a rare disease with acute onset and can determine massive parenchymal ischemia and distal arterial embolization. The aim of our study was to focus on the assessment of clinical characteristic, CT signs, medical and surgical treatment, complication rates and the overall survival of PAO., Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of all patients with acute lower limb ischemia and a final surgical or discharge diagnosis of PAO who underwent aortic CT angiography in ER settings in our hospital from January 2019 to November 2022., Results: A total of 11 patients (8 males/3 females; male/female ratio, 2.66:1, age range 49 to 79 years-old, mean age 65.27 y/o) with acute onset of lower limb impotence or ischemia were diagnosed with PAO. The etiology was thrombosis in all patients. The aortic occlusion was always located in the abdominal aorta and extended bilaterally through the common iliac arteries. The upper limit of the thrombosis was detected in the aortic subrenal tract in 81.8% of the cases, and in the infrarenal tract in 18.2%. A total of 81.8% of the patients were referred to the ER for symptoms related to lower limb: bilateral acute pain, hypothermia and sudden onset of functional impotence. Two patients (18.2%) died before undergoing surgery for multi-organ failure determined by the severe acute ischemia. The other patients (81.8%) underwent surgical treatment that included aortoiliac embolectomy (54.5%), aortoiliac embolectomy + aorto-femoral bypass (18.2%) and aortoiliac embolectomy and right lower limb amputation (9.1%). The overall mortality was 36.4% while the estimated survival at 1 year was 63.6%., Conclusions: PAO is a rare entity with high morbidity and mortality rates if not recognized and treated promptly. Acute onset of lower limb impotence is the most common clinical presentation of PAO. Aortic CT angiography is the first-choice imaging technique for the early diagnosis of this disease and for the surgical treatment, planning and assessment of any complications. Combined with surgical treatment, anticoagulation is considered the first-line medical therapy at the time of diagnosis, during surgical treatment and after at discharge.