title: Correlation of carotid atheromatous plaque inflammation using USPIO-enhanced MR imaging with degree of luminal stenosis.
abstract: 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.
authors.forename: Tjun Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Simon P S
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Howarth
authors.forename: Sam R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: U-King-Im
authors.forename: Zhi-Yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Stewart R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Warburton
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Varty
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gaunt
authors.forename: Jonathan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Gillard
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide