title: PET imaging of inflammation in atherosclerosis.
abstract: PET imaging of atherosclerosis can quantify several in vivo pathological processes occurring within the arterial system. (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is the most-commonly used PET tracer, with well-established roles in atherosclerosis imaging. In this context, the (18)F-FDG signal largely reflects tracer uptake by plaque macrophages and, therefore, inflammation with smaller contributions from other resident cell types. As a marker of plaque vulnerability, the (18)F-FDG PET signal can be used to help to identify patients at the highest risk of clinical events. (18)F-FDG PET has also been used successfully as a surrogate end point in clinical trials of antiatherosclerotic therapies. Nonetheless, imaging atherosclerosis with (18)F-FDG has several limitations. Most importantly, coronary artery imaging is problematic because (18)F-FDG accumulates in all cells that metabolize glucose, and background myocardial uptake is generally greater than any signal originating from a plaque. To help to overcome these limitations, several novel PET tracers, which might be more-specifically targeted than (18)F-FDG, have been tested in atherosclerosis imaging. These tracers are designed to track inflammation, hypoxia, neoangiogenesis, or active calcification, which are all precursors to plaque rupture and its clinical sequelae.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Cambridge, Box 110, Addenbrooke's Centre for Cardiovascular Investigation, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tarkin
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Cambridge, Box 110, Addenbrooke's Centre for Cardiovascular Investigation, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Francis R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Cambridge, Box 110, Addenbrooke's Centre for Cardiovascular Investigation, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK.
authors.forename: James H F
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Rudd
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18