Vascular 131I-low-density lipoprotein imaging in patients with hypertension and early atherosclerotic lesions in the carotid artery.
BACKGROUND
The reinjection of autologous 131I-labelled low-density lipoprotein (LDL) followed by vascular scintigraphy has been used to investigate lipid-containing plaques, but no information is available on the early stages of plaques in hypertensives. Vascular scintigraphy after re-injection of autologous 131I-labelled LDL was used to investigate early atherosclerotic lesions visualized by sonography in the carotid arteries of patients with hypertension.


METHODS
10 male patients (4 smokers; mean age 56 +/- 8 years;) with early carotid atherosclerosis (mono- or bilateral; intima-media-thickness ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 mm) as shown by sonography were studied. All these normolipemic patients suffered from primary hypertension and were treated with diuretics. As controls 6 healthy male subjects (3 smokers; mean age 54 +/- 9 years;), with normal blood pressure and lipid pattern were recruited.


RESULTS
Hot spots appeared in the areas with early atherosclerosis in 7 patients, while none were seen in controls. Positive kinetic curves were observed in 4 patients. No significant differences emerged in the target/non-target ratios.


CONCLUSIONS
Vascular lipoprotein uptake in hypertensive patients is apparently late and rather limited; the uptake pattern may depend on plaque composition.
Lupattelli
G
G
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine-Internal Medicine, Angiology and Atherosclerosis, University of Perugia, Italy.
Siepi
D
D
Palumbo
B
B
Fedeli
L
L
Ciuffetti
G
G
Palumbo
R
R
Sinzinger
H
H
Mannarino
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL