We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Abstract Number: Esoc2026a54 Circulating Microplastics in Acute Ischemic Stroke: Feasibility, Variability, and Exploratory Comparisons with Healthy Individuals
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers quantified microplastics in blood from 20 acute ischemic stroke patients and 15 healthy controls using contamination-controlled micro-FTIR analysis, finding numerically higher median MP counts in stroke patients and, in an exploratory pooled comparison with external healthy-reference datasets, a statistically significant elevation — though authors caution this remains hypothesis-generating pending larger harmonized studies.
Abstract Background and aims Microplastics (MPs) are found in human tissues and are increasingly discussed as a potential cardiovascular risk factor. Methods We conducted a prospective pilot study applying a contamination-controlled, plastic-free protocol to quantify MPs in whole blood. Thirty-five participants were enrolled: 20 with ischemic stroke and 15 healthy controls. Samples were analyzed by micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to determine particle counts, polymer types, and size distributions. To contextualize findings, we performed an exploratory pooled comparison with a reference of healthy individuals derived from two published datasets using weighted combination of reported means and standard deviations. Results MPs were detected in 94% of participants (median 11.0 MPs/mL; IQR 4-22; mean ± SD,12.6 ± 9.7; range 0-35). Median MP counts were numerically higher in stroke [13.5MPs/mL (IQR 6-23)] than in healthy controls [7.0 MPs/mL (IQR 2-18)]; group differences were not statistically significant in within-study comparisons (p=0.21, Mann-Whitney U). In an exploratory analysis, stroke patients exhibited significantly higher mean MP concentrations than a pooled healthy reference derived from external datasets (13.95±8.73 vs 5.11±7.31 MPs/mL; Welch’s t=3.69, p=0.0016). Polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate were the most abundant polymers, and smaller particles (20-100μm) predominated. Conclusions This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the feasibility of blood-based MP quantification under clinical conditions and provides preliminary, hypothesis-generating evidence that circulating MP levels may be elevated in acute ischemic stroke. Because the apparent difference relied on an exploratory pooled comparison across heterogeneous datasets, confirmation in larger, harmonized studies is essential before any inference about disease-specific elevation or clinical relevance. Conflict of interest nothing to disclose
More Papers Like This
Circulating Microplastics in Acute Ischemic Stroke: Feasibility, Variability, and Exploratory Comparisons with Healthy Individuals
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in the blood of almost everyone tested, and stroke patients showed higher levels than healthy people in one comparison — though the difference wasn't clear-cut when comparing groups tested the same way. This is an early, small study, so it doesn't prove microplastics cause strokes, but it does show blood testing for plastics is possible and worth studying further to understand if these particles affect heart and brain health.
Abstract Number: Esoc2026ys286 Microplastics in Cerebral Thrombi Retrieved During Mechanical Thrombectomy: a Retrospective Study Using a Novel Technique
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers are developing a novel technique combining deparaffinization and mass spectrometry to detect and characterize microplastics in formalin-fixed cerebral thrombi from stroke patients, aiming to test whether microplastics contribute to thrombogenesis and ischemic stroke risk.
Abstract Number: Esoc2026a964 Microplastics Not Detected in Cerebral Thrombi from Cardioembolic Stroke: Detection Using Pyrolysis–gc/ms
AI summary Read the abstract
Using pyrolysis-GC/MS — a more chemically rigorous method than visual inspection — researchers analyzed clot material retrieved during mechanical thrombectomy from cardioembolic stroke patients and found no detectable polyethylene, polystyrene, or other plastic polymers, urging caution in interpreting earlier reports of microplastics in cardiovascular tissue.
Abstract TMP110: Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Ischemic Stroke in Mice
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated the effect of polyethylene and polystyrene micro/nanoplastics on ischemic stroke outcomes in mice using a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion model. Daily MNP pretreatment before stroke induction was assessed for effects on infarct volume and neurological outcomes, exploring the emerging hypothesis that MNPs may be a cerebrovascular risk factor.
[Microplastics and thrombo-inflammation in acute ischemic stroke : adding fuel to the fire].
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles from everyday sources—food, water, air—are showing up in human blood vessels, brain tissue, and even blood clots, and this review of existing research suggests they may worsen strokes by fueling inflammation and abnormal clotting in the body. While more research is needed to confirm exactly how much these plastics contribute to stroke risk, scientists say this is a serious enough concern that we need better ways to detect and reduce our exposure to microplastics now.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.