RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Comparison of carotid atherosclerotic plaques between subjects in Northern and Southern China: a Chinese atherosclerosis risk evaluation study JF Stroke and Vascular Neurology JO Stroke Vasc Neurol FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 138 OP 145 DO 10.1136/svn-2019-000288 VO 5 IS 2 A1 Dandan Yang A1 Yang Ji A1 Dan Wang A1 Hiroko Watase A1 Daniel S Hippe A1 Xihai Zhao A1 Chun Yuan YR 2020 UL http://svn.bmj.com/content/5/2/138.abstract AB Background and purpose To investigate differences in the characteristics of carotid atherosclerotic plaques of symptomatic subjects in northern and southern China using MRI.Methods Sixty-three subjects in northern China (mean age: 59.1±8.6 years, 45 men) and 56 subjects in southern China (mean age: 60.4±8.6 years, 38 men) were included. All subjects underwent carotid artery multicontrast vessel wall MRI. Plaque morphology, calcification, lipid-rich necrotic core, intraplaque haemorrhage, luminal surface disruption and high-risk plaque were measured and identified. All plaque characteristics were compared between subjects in northern and southern China using Mann-Whitney U test or χ2 test.Results Compared with subjects in southern China, those in northern China had significantly greater areas for lumen (57.7±14.9 mm2 vs 50.4±18.3 mm2, p=0.009), wall (38.4±13.1 mm2 vs 31.9±11.7 mm2, p<0.001) and total vessel (96.1±20.2 mm2 vs 82.4±22.7 mm2, p=0.001) and mean wall thickness (1.25±0.43 mm vs 1.13±0.40 mm, p=0.019). χ2 analysis showed that subjects in northern China tended to have a higher prevalence of intraplaque haemorrhage (14.3% vs 5.4%, p=0.106) and high-risk plaque (20.6% vs 10.7%, p=0.140) than those in southern China, although these differences were not statistically significant (all p>0.05).Conclusion Subjects in northern China have significantly larger vessel size and may have a higher prevalence of vulnerable plaques than those in southern China. Our findings provide additional perspective to optimise the management of cerebrovascular disease in individuals in different regions in China.Trial registration number NCT02017756