Bilateral prevalence of vulnerable plaque features in symptomatic patients with BCPs (N=540)
| n (%) | P value† | ||||
| Neither bilaterally | Present in at least one side | ||||
| Left side only | Right side only | Both sides | |||
| Presence of calcification | 114 (21.1) | 426 (78.9) | 0.382 | ||
| 86 (15.9) | 75 (13.9) | 265 (49.1) | |||
| Presence of LRNC | 3 (0.6) | 537 (99.4) | 0.026* | ||
| 54 (10.0) | 34 (6.3) | 449 (83.1) | |||
| Presence of IPH | 364 (67.4) | 176 (32.6) | 0.439 | ||
| 68 (12.6) | 61 (11.3) | 47 (8.7) | |||
| Presence of FCR | 454 (84.1) | 86 (15.9) | 0.358 | ||
| 36 (6.7) | 42 (7.8) | 8 (1.5) | |||
| Presence of HRP | 295 (54.6) | 245 (45.4) | 0.485 | ||
| 82 (15.2) | 88 (16.3) | 75 (13.9) | |||
*P<0.05.
†P value based on the comparison of various vulnerable plaque components between left and right carotid arteries (it counts when present in one side, regardless of whether it appears on the contralateral side).
BCPs, concurrent bilateral carotid artery plaques; FCR, fibrous cap rupture; HRP, high-risk plaque; IPH, intraplaque haemorrhage; LRNC, lipid-rich necrotic core.