Mahesan Subramaniam: Microplastics – Present in More Than 50% of Arterial Plaques Removed During Surgery
Dato Capt. Mahesan Subramaniam, Co-Founder United Health Tourism, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“A recent study has revealed that microplastics are present in more than 50% of arterial plaques removed during surgery, potentially contributing to heart disease. Researchers from the University of Campania in Naples analyzed tissue samples from 257 patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy—a procedure to remove fatty deposits from narrowed arteries. They discovered that nearly 60% of the samples contained polyethylene, the most commonly produced plastic, while 12% also had polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
The presence of these microplastics was associated with a 4.5-fold increased risk of stroke, heart attack, or death over a 34-month follow-up period. This suggests that microplastics may play a role in the development of cardiovascular diseases. Laboratory studies have shown that microplastics can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and scarring in heart cells, which could lead to impaired heart function.
While the study does not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, the findings highlight the potential health risks associated with microplastic exposure. As microplastics are found in various environmental sources, including air, water, and food, their impact on human health warrants further investigation.

Title: Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events
Authors: Raffaele Marfella, Francesco Prattichizzo, Celestino Sardu, Gianluca Fulgenzi, Laura Graciotti, Tatiana Spadoni, Nunzia D’Onofrio, Lucia Scisciola, Rosalba La Grotta, Chiara Frigé, Valeria Pellegrini, Maurizio Municinò, Mario Siniscalchi, Fabio Spinetti, Gennaro Vigliotti, Carmine Vecchione, Albino Carrizzo, Giulio Accarino, Antonio Squillante, Giuseppe Spaziano, Davida Mirra, Renata Esposito, Simona Altieri, Giovanni Falco, Angelo Fenti, Simona Galoppo, Silvana Canzano, Ferdinando C Sasso, Giulia Matacchione, Fabiola Olivieri, Franca Ferraraccio, Iacopo Panarese, Pasquale Paolisso, Emanuele Barbato, Carmine Lubritto, Maria L Balestrieri, Ciro Mauro, Augusto E Caballero, Sanjay Rajagopalan, Antonio Ceriello, Bruno D’Agostino, Pasquale Iovino, Giuseppe Paolisso

Read full paper here.
Research Paper
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2309822″
Stay informed with Hemostasis Today.
-
Jul 12, 2026, 12:30Reduced-Dose DOACs in GI Malignancies: Toward Personalized Anticoagulation
-
Jul 12, 2026, 08:50Where the Hemophilia Community Comes Together at ISTH 2026 – EAHAD
-
Jul 12, 2026, 08:2210 Posts Not To Miss from ISTH 2026, Part 1
-
Jul 12, 2026, 07:58Brian O Mahony: Could NXT-007 Minimize the Need for Perioperative FVIII
-
Jul 12, 2026, 07:50Shayan Mohammadmoradi: Connecting the Next Generation of Hemostasis Researchers at ISTH 2026
-
Jul 12, 2026, 07:42Alexandra Yakusheva: ThrombInnov Debuts at ISTH 2026 with a Focus on Translational Research
-
Jul 12, 2026, 07:34Wolfgang Miesbach: ISTH 2026 Explores the Next Generation of APS Diagnostics
-
Jul 12, 2026, 07:28Sara Zalghout: ISTH 2026 Highlights Progress in Thromboinflammation Research
-
Jul 12, 2026, 07:13Ekaterina Balaian: Finding Healing Through Art at ISTH 2026