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Circulating Microplastics in Acute Ischemic Stroke: Feasibility, Variability, and Exploratory Comparisons with
Sophia Hohenstatt1,2, Gabriele Maliandi3, Dominik F Vollherbst4
1Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. sophia.hohenstatt@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
Clinical Neuroradiology
|June 3, 2026
Summary
Microplastics (MPs) were found in 94% of participants, with higher levels observed in stroke patients compared to controls. This study shows blood MP quantification is feasible and suggests a link between MPs and ischemic stroke.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Cardiovascular Science
Background:
- Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly detected in human tissues.
- Preclinical models link MPs to vascular injury, but human data on circulating MPs is limited.
- Existing studies rely on surgical/autopsy samples, unsuitable for large-scale biomonitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify microplastics (MPs) in human whole blood using a contamination-controlled protocol.
- To investigate potential differences in MP levels between ischemic stroke patients and healthy controls.
- To explore the feasibility of blood-based MP quantification for clinical relevance.
Main Methods:
- A prospective pilot study quantified MPs in whole blood from 35 participants (20 ischemic stroke, 15 healthy controls).
- A plastic-free protocol and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were employed for MP analysis.
- Exploratory pooled comparison with external healthy control datasets was performed.
Main Results:
- MPs were detected in 94% of participants (median 11.0 MPs/mL).
- Numerically higher MP counts were observed in stroke patients (13.5 MPs/mL) vs. controls (7.0 MPs/mL), though not statistically significant in direct comparison.
- Exploratory analysis showed significantly higher MP concentrations in stroke patients compared to a pooled healthy reference (p=0.0016).
- Polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate were the most abundant polymers; smaller particles (20-100 µm) predominated.
Conclusions:
- Blood-based MP quantification is feasible under clinical conditions.
- Circulating MP levels may be elevated in acute ischemic stroke, warranting further investigation.
- Larger, harmonized studies are essential to confirm findings and establish clinical relevance.
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