Abstract Background and aims Characterization of cerebral thrombus composition has emerged as a promising avenue for improving our understanding of thromboembolic stroke etiology. Recent studies have identified microplastics in multiple human tissues, and experimental evidence suggests that microplastics may induce inflammatory cascades contributing to atherosclerosis and thrombogenesis. However, the presence of microplastics within cerebral thrombi has not been systematically explored. In particular, the feasibility of detecting microplastics in archived formalin-fixed thrombus specimens remains unknown. This study aims to assess the feasibility of identifying and characterizing microplastics in preserved cerebral thrombi retrieved during mechanical thrombectomy. Primary outcomes will include the presence, type, and quantity of microplastics detected within cerebral thrombi. Secondary analysis will explore associations between microplastic content in those who received thrombolytic therapy, baseline stroke severity, and selected clinical and procedural variables Methods This retrospective study will analyze preserved formalin-fixed cerebral thrombi collected from patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke. Thrombus samples will be examined for microplastic content using a combination of novel deparaffinization techniques, complemented by mass spectrometry-based analysis for material characterization. Relevant clinical, radiological, and procedural data will be extracted from medical records. Results Thrombi samples for the study are already processed on slides and stored in our facility. Currently working with Rice University to develop a combination technique for analysis. Conflict of interest Nothing to Disclose
Alley et al. (Fri,) studied this question.