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P69 | Microplastics and Atherosclerosis: Evidence of Microplastics in Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaques
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This conference abstract reports the detection of multiple types of microplastics in human coronary, carotid, and aortic arteries, finding higher MP concentrations in arteries with atherosclerotic plaques than in plaque-free aortic tissue, suggesting a link between microplastic accumulation and arterial disease.
A very recent study reported for the first time the presence of four types of microplastics in human arteries, including coronary, carotid and aortic arteries. The coronary and carotid arteries with atherosclerotic plaques had significantly higher concentrations than aortic arteries without atherosclerotic plaques, which could imply a link between microplastics and atherosclerosis1. We analysed 27 atherosclerotic plaques taken from patients with carotid atherosclerosis who had undergone carotid endarterectomy in order to determine the distribution of microplastics within the plaques. Microplastics were detected by pyrolysi-gass chromatography/mass spectrometry an average concentration of 13.99±3.00 μg/mg of plaque. Four types of microplastics were detected: PET (36.5%), PA-66 (38.6%), PVC (15.5%), and PE (9.22%). Secondary endpoint included levels of tissue biomarkers CD68 and CD3 measured by immunohistochemistry in plaques where at least one type of microplastic was identified versus those without. Scanning electron microscopy images showed small particles of low-reflection material surrounded by a thin line of high-reflection material identified outside in the amorphous material of the plaque. These findings are consistent with a multicenter observational study conducted in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy for asymptomatic carotid artery disease2, suggesting that microplastics may be associated with human cardiovascular health.
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This landmark clinical study found that patients with micro- and nanoplastics detected in their carotid artery plaque had a significantly higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or death over a 34-month follow-up period compared to those without detectable plastics. This is one of the first studies to directly link microplastic presence in human blood vessels to worse cardiovascular outcomes. The findings suggest that plastic accumulation in arteries may be an important and previously unrecognized risk factor for heart disease.
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This paper reviews emerging evidence linking microplastic exposure to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, noting that MPs have been detected in arterial plaques and human tissues and may contribute to cardiovascular risk through inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial disruption.
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