title: Detection of neovessels in atherosclerotic plaques of rabbits using dynamic contrast enhanced MRI and 18F-FDG PET.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The association of inflammatory cells and neovessels in atherosclerosis is considered a histological hallmark of high-risk active lesions. Therefore, the development and validation of noninvasive imaging techniques that allow for the detection of inflammation and neoangiogenesis in atherosclerosis would be of major clinical interest. Our aim was to test 2 techniques, black blood dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) and 18-fluorine-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET, to quantify inflammation expressed as plaque neovessels content in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Atherosclerotic plaques were induced in the aorta of 10 rabbits by a combination of 2 endothelial abrasions and 4 months hyperlipidemic diet. Six rabbits underwent MRI during the injection of Gd-DTPA, whereas 4 rabbits were imaged after injection of 18F-FDG with PET. We found a positive correlation between neovessels count in atherosclerotic plaques and (1) Gd-DTPA uptake parameters evaluated by DCE-MRI (r=0.89, P=0.016) and (2) 18F-FDG uptake evaluated by PET (r=0.5, P=0.103 after clustered robust, Huber-White, standard errors analysis).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DCE-MRI and 18F-FDG PET may allow for the evaluation of inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques of rabbits. These noninvasive imaging modalities could be proposed as clinical tools in the evaluation of lesion prognosis and monitoring of anti-angiogenic therapies.
authors.affiliation: FAHA, FACC, Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calcagno
authors.forename: Jean-Christophe
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cornily
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hyafil
authors.forename: James H F
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Rudd
authors.forename: Karen C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Briley-Saebo
authors.forename: Venkatesh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mani
authors.forename: Gregg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goldschlager
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Machac
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fuster
authors.forename: Zahi A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Fayad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D019540:Area Under Curve; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003287:Contrast Media; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011817:Rabbits; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012107:Research Design
chemical_list: D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D003287:Contrast Media; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA