Peak radial and circumferential strain measured by velocity vector imaging is a novel index for detecting vulnerable plaques in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the reliability of velocity vector imaging (VVI) for detecting vulnerable plaques.


RESULTS
After aortic balloon injury, 60 rabbits were fed a 1% cholesterol diet for 10 weeks and normal chow for another 6 weeks. Adenovirus containing p53 or lac Z was then injected into the aortic plaques and rabbits were divided into p53-treated group (n=20), lac Z-treated group (n=20) and blank control group (n=20). Peak longitudinal (LSp), radial (RSp) and circumferential (CSp) strain of plaques was measured using VVI at the end of week 18 before pharmacological triggering. Higher RSp and CSp and lower LSp were found in ruptured than those in non-ruptured plaques, and RSp, CSp and LSp correlated well with the fibrous cap thickness and plaque content of macrophages, smooth muscle cells and collagen (all p<0.01). A logistic regression model showed that both RSp (RR: 8.96, 95% CI: 5.3575-10.4857, p<0.001) and CSp (RR: 8.45, 95% CI: 5.9043-9.1043, p<0.001) were significant predictors of plaque rupture. RSp and CSp had a sensitivity of 88.0% and 88.6% and a specificity of 88.6% and 92.0% to predict plaque disruption, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
VVI offers a new and noninvasive technique for measuring the peak strain of atherosclerotic plaques and RSp and CSp are a novel index with a high sensitivity and specificity for detecting plaques vulnerable to rupture.
The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education and Chinese Ministry of Health, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250012, PR China.
Lei
L
Zhang
Yan
Y
Liu
Peng Fei
PF
Zhang
Yu Xia
YX
Zhao
Xiao Ping
XP
Ji
Xiao Ting
XT
Lu
Wen Qiang
WQ
Chen
Chun Xi
CX
Liu
Cheng
C
Zhang
Yun
Y
Zhang
D000818:Animals; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D011817:Rabbits; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014463:Ultrasonography