Abstract：【Objective】To investigate the expression level and clinical significance of endothelial cell microparticles (EMPs) in patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques (carotid plaques). 【Methods】A total of 82 patients with carotid plaques attended to outpatient clinics of two hospitals were assigned to the observation group, while 82 healthy individuals undergoing routine health check-ups during the same period were designated as the control group. Related clinical data and EMPs levels between the two groups were compared. The diagnostic value of EMPs for carotid plaques was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to identify factors influencing carotid plaques. 【Results】The observation group exhibited significantly higher levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and EMPs, while significantly lower level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) compared to the control group (all P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that LDL-C, HDL-C, and EMPs were associated with carotid plaques, with odds ratios (OR) (95%CI) of 1.88 (1.42-2.50), 0.65 (0.32-0.97), and 2.17 (1.49-3.16), respectively.The ROC curve indicated that the area under the curve (AUC) (95%CI) for EMPs diagnosing carotid plaques was 0.80 (0.74-0.87).Patients in the high EMPs subgroup had significantly higher carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque scores compared to those in the low EMPs subgroup (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】EMPs are potential diagnostic indicators for carotid plaques and it is a risk factor for carotid plaques development.
2023, Vol. 40 
