Detection of neovessels in atherosclerotic plaques of rabbits using dynamic contrast enhanced MRI and 18F-FDG PET.
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.
Calcagno
Claudia
C
FAHA, FACC, Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Cornily
Jean-Christophe
JC
Hyafil
Fabien
F
Rudd
James H F
JH
Briley-Saebo
Karen C
KC
Mani
Venkatesh
V
Goldschlager
Gregg
G
Machac
Josef
J
Fuster
Valentin
V
Fayad
Zahi A
ZA
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
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D003287:Contrast Media; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA