Expression data for post-bifurcation internal carotid atheroma

There are regional differences in plaque morphology and mechanistic differences between areas upstream and downstream of the lipid core. Transcript expression profiles were determined for post-bifurcation carotid plaques to identify genes differentially expressed between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Carotid plaques were collected from 9 symptomatic patients and 9 asymptomatic patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Symptomatic patients underwent CEA up to 184 days from one or more ipsilateral ischemic cerebral or retinal symptoms, in accord with the clinical definition of a symptomatic carotid stenosis covering up to 6 months after the onset of neurological symptoms. Patients were classified as symptomatic if they suffered a transient ischemic attack, transient monocular blindness ipsilateral to the study artery, or minor or non-disabling ipsilateral stroke. Otherwise, patients were classified as asymptomatic. Asymptomatic and symptomatic patients presented with significant carotid stenosis (60%-100%).