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Recent developments and new perspectives on imaging of atherosclerotic plaque: role of anatomical, cellular and molecular MRI Part I and II.
- Source :
-
The international journal of cardiovascular imaging [Int J Cardiovasc Imaging] 2010 Apr; Vol. 26 (4), pp. 433-45. Date of Electronic Publication: 2010 Jan 29. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Atherosclerotic plaque disruption accounts for the major part of cardiovascular mortality and the risk of disruption appears to depend on plaque composition. Carotid plaques in patients, scheduled for endarterectomy, have been successfully characterised with MRI. MRI has the advantage of combining information about morphology and function. Unfortunately, the tortuosity and size of the coronary arteries, and the respiratory and cardiac motion hinder the in vivo characterisation of human coronary plaque. In addition to plaque composition several molecular markers of the different processes involved in atherosclerosis, such as integrins, matrix metalloproteinases and fibrin seem to correlate with risk of plaque rupture and clinical outcome. These molecular markers can be targeted with antibodies coupled to carriers, which are loaded with gadolinium for detection (molecular MRI). Several cellular/molecular MRI studies in animal models and some in human patients have been conducted with varying levels of success. The advent of clinical high field magnets, the development of contrast agent carriers with high relaxivity and the development of relatively new MR contrast techniques are promising in the field of plaque imaging. Future MRI studies will have to focus on the molecular target of the atherosclerotic process, which has the highest prognostic value with regard to acute coronary syndromes and on the most suitable contrast agent to visualize that target.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Biomarkers analysis
Carotid Artery Diseases metabolism
Contrast Media
Coronary Artery Disease metabolism
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Angiography trends
Predictive Value of Tests
Severity of Illness Index
Whole Body Imaging trends
Carotid Artery Diseases diagnosis
Coronary Artery Disease diagnosis
Magnetic Resonance Imaging trends
Molecular Probe Techniques trends
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1875-8312
- Volume :
- 26
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The international journal of cardiovascular imaging
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 20112134
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-009-9565-8