Objective:This study aims to investigate the relationship between middle cerebral artery(MCA)plaque features on high-resolution vessel wall imaging(HR-VWI)and acute ischemic stroke/TIA recurrence. Methods:The HR-VWI and clinical data of 105 patients with atherosclerotic plaques on MCA were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into group 1,with the first episode of acute ischemic stroke/TIA(n=61);group 2,with recurrent acute ischemic stroke/TIA(n=19);group 3,with no occurrence of clinical event(n=25). The degree of stenosis,remodeling index and plaque features(enhancement ratio,enhancement grade,plaque burden,T1 signal intensity,and plaque distribution)were measured and compared among groups using analysis of variance,chi-square,Fisher’s exact test or Kruskal-Wallis test. Regression models investigated risk factors for recurrent stroke/TIA. Results:Plaque burden,enhancement ratio,remodeling index were all significantly higher in group 1 and 2,compared to group 3(all P < 0.05). Higher plaque burden(P=0.005),higher stenosis degree(P=0.006)and more concentric plaque(P=0.008) were found in group 2 compared to group 1(P < 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression shows plaque burden was the only significant plaque marker associated with recurrent stroke/TIA(OR=1.075,95% CI 1.019~1.133,P=0.008). Conclusion:Higher plaque burden of MCA was independently associated with recurrent acute ischemic stroke/TIA and can be an effective imaging marker for alarming the ischemic stroke recurrence.