Correlation of carotid atheromatous plaque inflammation using USPIO-enhanced MR imaging with degree of luminal stenosis.
OBJECTIVE
Inflammation is a recognized risk factor for the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque. The study explores the relationship between the degree of Magnetic Resonance (MR)-defined inflammation using Ultra Small Super-Paramagnetic Iron Oxide (USPIO) particles and the severity of luminal stenosis in asymptomatic carotid plaques.


METHODS
Seventy-one patients with an asymptomatic carotid stenosis of > or = 40% underwent multi-sequence USPIO-enhanced MR imaging. Stenosis severity was measured according to the NASCET and ECST methods.


RESULTS
No demonstrable relationship between inflammation as measured by USPIO-enhanced signal change and the degree of luminal stenosis was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Inflammation and stenosis are likely to be independent risk factors, although this needs to be further validated.
Tang
Tjun Y
TY
Howarth
Simon P S
SP
Miller
Sam R
SR
Graves
Martin J
MJ
U-King-Im
Jean-Marie
JM
Li
Zhi-Yong
ZY
Walsh
Stewart R
SR
Patterson
Andrew J
AJ
Kirkpatrick
Peter J
PJ
Warburton
Elizabeth A
EA
Varty
Kevin
K
Gaunt
Michael E
ME
Gillard
Jonathan H
JH
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000473:pathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide