Systemic arterial inflammation, measured with 18FDG-PET, is common amongst subjects with both recent and prior cerebrovascular disease.
OBJECTIVE
To compare systemic arterial inflammation in subjects with recent ischaemic stroke or TIA and controls with prior cerebrovascular disease.


METHODS
Systemic arterial inflammation was prospectively measured by (18)F-fluorodeoxygluose positron emission tomography in 11 cases with recent ischaemic stroke or TIA, and 11 sex matched controls with prior cerebrovascular disease.


RESULTS
Hot spots (both carotid and non-carotid) of localised (18)FDG uptake were found in more than half of all patients with either recent (n = 6) or prior (n = 8) cerebrovascular disease. There was no significant difference in the total number of hotspots, or hotspots at specific sites, in cases compared with controls. Mean standard uptake values (SUV) were similar in the carotid arteries and aorta of cases and controls, and showed a trend toward higher values in the femoral arteries of the controls (median 1.8; IQR 1.6-2.2) compared to cases (median 1.5; IQR 1.4-1.7).


CONCLUSIONS
Arterial inflammation was common, and appeared similar, in patients with recent stroke/TIA, and controls with stroke/TIA more than two years previously.
Western Australian Centre for Health & Ageing, University of Western Australia, Australia. cdbeer@graduate.uwa.edu.au
Christopher D
CD
Beer
Kathleen
K
Potter
Nat
N
Lenzo
David
D
Blacker
Leonard F
LF
Arnolda
Graeme J
GJ
Hankey
Ian B
IB
Puddey
D000368:Aged; D001167:Arteritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002539:Cerebral Arterial Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D008055:Lipids; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18