title: Vascular inflammation stratified by C-reactive protein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels: analysis with 18F-FDG PET.
abstract: We examined the severity of vascular inflammation in healthy individuals without hyperlipidemia but with elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) using 18F-FDG PET, which is a promising imaging technique for the assessment of vascular inflammation within atherosclerotic plaques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vascular inflammation in the carotid arterial wall, represented as the target-to-background ratio (TBR), was measured using 18F-FDG PET in 120 healthy subjects without a history of cardiovascular diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with high hsCRP (≥2 mg/L) and low low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (<130 mg/dL) levels had a significantly higher maximum TBR than did those with low hsCRP (<2 mg/L) and low LDL-C levels (<130 mg/dL) or low hsCRP (<2 mg/L) and high LDL-C levels (≥130 mg/dL) (1.29±0.13, 1.12±0.10, and 1.16±0.05, respectively), even though there were no significant differences in the carotid intima-media thickness. The maximum TBR values had the strongest positive correlation with hsCRP level among the various cardiovascular risk factors (r=0.68, P<0.01). However, other emerging inflammatory markers such as lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) or monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were not coherently associated with TBR values. Multiple stepwise regression analyses showed that hsCRP and diastolic blood pressure were independent decisive factors for maximum TBR, whereas age, diastolic blood pressure, and LDL-C were factors that determined the maximum intima-media thickness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vascular inflammation measured using 18F-FDG PET was increased in healthy individuals without hyperlipidemia but with elevated hsCRP.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, and Cardiovascular Center, Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Sungeun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Man Sik
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sae Jeong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Tae Nyun
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Sin Gon
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Nan Hee
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hong Seog
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Sei Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Baik
authors.forename: Dong Seop
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kyung Mook
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000473:pathology; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012307:Risk Factors; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase