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Microplastics in Carotid Arterial Plaque & Cardiovascular Events

Sep 22, 2026 · Site Administrator · 118 views

Microplastics in Carotid Arterial Plaque & Cardiovascular Events
Source & Reference: Published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)
Source URL: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2309822

A landmark prospective study published in the New England Journal of Medicine examined 257 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Using mass spectrometry and electron microscopy, researchers analyzed excised arterial plaque for Polyethylene (PE) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC).

Key Clinical Findings:

  • Prevalence in Tissue: Polyethylene was detected in 58.4% of patients (mean 21.7 μg/mg plaque), while Polyvinyl Chloride was found in 12.1% of patients.
  • Elevated Clinical Mortality: Patients with microplastics in their carotid plaque faced a 4.53‑fold hazard ratio (95% CI, 2.00 to 10.27) for nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, or all‑cause mortality over a 34‑month follow‑up.
  • Pathological Mechanism: Jagged plastic fragments embedded within macrophage cells inflamed plaque matrices, spiking pro‑inflammatory cytokines (IL‑18, IL‑6, TNF‑alpha) and predisposing plaques to rupture.
#Microplastics#Cardiovascular Health#NEJM#Arterial Plaque#Stroke Risk#Environmental Health

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