Actin Is a Target of T-Cell Reactivity in Patients with Advanced Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaques

Table 1

Baseline characteristics of the 17 patients with carotid atherosclerosis.

Parameter
N (%)	17 (100)
Age (years), median (range)	73 (62–84)
Male/female (n)	10/7
Diabetes∗, n (%)	7 (41)
Smoking^†, n (%)	10 (59)
Hypertension^‡, n (%)	10 (59)
Family history^∣∣, n (%)	8 (47)
Hypercholesterolemia^§, n (%)	6 (35)
Body mass index, median (range)	27.7 (25–30.5)
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, median (range)	15 (12–20)

∗Diabetes is type 2, defined as fasting glucose levels ≥140 mg/dL or need for antidiabetic medications.
†Smoking is defined as current smokers.
‡Hypertension is defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, or need for hypertension medication.
∣∣Family history is defined as having relatives with known heart or vascular disease, including myocardial infarction, heart failure, aneurysm, stroke, sudden death, arrhythmia, and rheumatic fever.
§Hypercholesterolemia is defined as total cholesterol >200 mg/dL or need for lipid-lowering therapy.