title: Characterization of ultraviolet laser-induced autofluorescence of ceroid deposits and other structures in atherosclerotic plaques as a potential diagnostic for laser angiosurgery.
abstract: Unstained frozen sections of normal and atherosclerotic human aorta and coronary artery were examined using histochemical and fluorescence microscopic techniques to identify the structures responsible for autofluorescence under 351 to 364 nm laser excitation. These structures included elastin and collagen in normal and atherosclerotic specimens, calcium deposits in calcified plaques, and granular or ring-shaped deposits histochemically identified as ceroid found in both calcified and non-calcified plaques. Qualitatively, both the color and intensity of ceroid autofluorescence differed greatly from that of elastin or collagen. The emission spectra of elastin, collagen, and ceroid were examined by microscopic spectrofluorimetry, and were found to differ significantly as well. When compared with spectra of elastin and collagen, spectra of ceroid were broader, shifted to the red, and were somewhat resistant to bleaching. We conclude that detection of laser-induced ceroid autofluorescence may aid in identifying plaques for laser ablation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195-5066.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Verbunt
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fitzmaurice
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Ratliff
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kittrell
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Taroni
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cothren
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baraga
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feld
mesh_terms: D016342:Angioplasty, Laser / Q000295:instrumentation; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002566:Ceroid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D004549:Elastin / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007834:Lasers; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008860:Microscopy, Ultraviolet / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D002566:Ceroid; D003094:Collagen; D004549:Elastin