Stabilization of vulnerable atherosclerotic carotid plaques by Rivaroxaban as evaluated by 3D contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)

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• General exclusion criteria: - Subjects who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or are of childbearing potential and sexually active and not practicing an effective method of contraception. - Severe cardiac insufficiency with ejection fraction < 30% or New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III or IV symptoms. - Current acute condition/disease. CEUS exclusion criteria: - Previous allergic reaction towards the contrast SonoVue® - Electronic implantation e.g. pacemaker, ICD, due to use of magnetic field ultrasound. - Patients who cannot cooperate to the ultrasound examination. Rivaroxaban exclusion criteria: - Concomitant participation in another study with investigational drug. XML File Identifier: odUcQ2bKM/VFeYJoaZs9/VmaD9k= Page 11/24 - History of hypersensitivity or known contraindication for rivaroxaban, aspirin (acetylsalicyl acid), pantoprazole, or excipients. - Need for other anticoagulant therapy e.g. warferin or other direct oral anticoagulants than rivaroxaban. - Already in treatment with rivaroxaban. - Need for dual antiplatelets therapy or other non-aspirin antiplatelet therapy. - High risk of bleeding e.g.: active significant bleeding, previous or current lesions or conditions with significant risk of major bleedings, recent cerebral, spinal or ocular surgery, recent intracranial bleeding, esophageal varices, arteriovenous malformations, vascular aneurysms or majour intraspinal og intracerebral vascular abnormalities. - Stroke within 1 year or previous haemorrhagic or lacunar stroke. - Any known hepatic disease associated with coagulopathy. - Estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/m2 - Other severe, non-cardiovascular condition/disease associated with poor prognosis (e.g. metastatic cancer) and limits life expectancy. - Systemic treatment with strong inhibitors of CYP3A4 as well as pglycoprotein (e.g., systemic azole antimycotics, such as ketoconazole, and HIV-protease inhibitors, such as ritonavir). - Strong inducers of CYP3A4 (i.e., rifampicin, rifabutin, phenobarbital, phenytoin, and carbamazepine).