Identifying inflamed carotid plaques using in vivo USPIO-enhanced MR imaging to label plaque macrophages.
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2006;
26:1601-6. [PMID:
16627809 DOI:
10.1161/01.atv.0000222920.59760.df]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 281] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Inflammation within atherosclerotic lesions contributes to plaque instability and vulnerability to rupture. We set out to evaluate the use of a macrophage labeling agent to identify carotid plaque inflammation by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
METHODS AND RESULTS
Thirty patients with symptomatic severe carotid stenosis scheduled for carotid endarterectomy underwent multi-sequence MRI of the carotid bifurcation before and after injection of ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide (USPIOs). USPIO particles accumulated in macrophages in 24 of 30 plaques (80%). Areas of signal intensity reduction, corresponding to USPIO/macrophage-positive histological sections, were visualized in 24 of 27 (89%) patients, with an average reduction in signal intensity induced by the USPIO particles of 24% (range, 3.1% to 60.8%).
CONCLUSIONS
USPIO-enhanced MRI can identify plaque inflammation in vivo by accumulation of USPIO within macrophages in carotid plaques.
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