Increased neovascularization in advanced lipid-rich atherosclerotic lesions detected by gadofluorine-M-enhanced MRI: implications for plaque vulnerability.
Circ Cardiovasc Imaging
; 2(5): 391-6, 2009 Sep.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19808627
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Inflammation and neovascularization may play a significant role in atherosclerotic plaque progression and rupture. We evaluated gadofluorine-M-enhanced MRI for detection of plaque inflammation and neovascularization in an animal model of atherosclerosis. METHODS ANDRESULTS:
Sixteen rabbits with aortic plaque and 6 normal control rabbits underwent gadofluorine-M-enhanced MRI. Eight rabbits had advanced atherosclerotic lesions, whereas the remaining 8 had early lesions. Magnetic resonance atherosclerotic plaque enhancement was meticulously compared with plaque inflammation and neovessel density as assessed by histopathology. Advanced plaques and early atheroma were enhanced after gadofluorine-M injection. Control animals displayed no enhancement. After accounting for the within-animal correlation of observations, mean contrast-to-noise ratio was significantly higher in advanced plaques than compared with early atheroma (4.29+/-0.21 versus 3.00+/-0.32; P=0.004). Macrophage density was higher in advanced plaques in comparison to early atheroma (geometric mean=0.50 [95% CI, 0.19 to 1.03] versus 0.25 [0.07 to 0.42]; P=0.05). Furthermore, higher neovessel density was observed in advanced plaques (1.83 [95% CI, 1.51 to 2.21] versus 1.29 [0.99 to 1.69]; P=0.05). The plaque accumulation of gadofluorine-M correlated with increased neovessel density as shown by linear regression analysis (r=0.67; P<0.001). Confocal and fluorescence microscopy revealed colocalization of gadofluorine-M with plaque areas containing a high density of neovessels.CONCLUSIONS:
Gadofluorine-M-enhanced MRI is effective for in vivo detection of atherosclerotic plaque inflammation and neovascularization in an animal model of atherosclerosis. These findings suggest that gadofluorine-M enhancement reflects the presence of high-risk plaque features believed to be associated with plaque rupture. Gadofluorine-M plaque enhancement may therefore provide functional assessment of atherosclerotic plaque in vivo.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Temas:
Geral
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Compostos Organometálicos
/
Aorta
/
Doenças da Aorta
/
Angiografia por Ressonância Magnética
/
Meios de Contraste
/
Aterosclerose
/
Metabolismo dos Lipídeos
/
Neovascularização Patológica
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Circ Cardiovasc Imaging
Assunto da revista:
ANGIOLOGIA
/
CARDIOLOGIA
/
DIAGNOSTICO POR IMAGEM
Ano de publicação:
2009
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
França