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Molecular imaging of atherosclerosis in translational medicine

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Abstract

Functional characterization of atherosclerosis is a promising application of molecular imaging. Radionuclide-based techniques for molecular imaging in the large arteries (e.g. aorta and carotids), along with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have been studied both experimentally and in clinical studies. Technical factors including cardiac and respiratory motion, low spatial resolution and partial volume effects mean that noninvasive molecular imaging of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries is not ready for prime time. Positron emission tomography imaging with fluorodeoxyglucose can measure vascular inflammation in the large arteries with high reproducibility, and signal change in response to anti-inflammatory therapy has been described. MRI has proven of value for quantifying carotid artery inflammation when iron oxide nanoparticles are used as a contrast agent. Macrophage accumulation of the iron particles allows regression of inflammation to be measured with drug therapy. Similarly, contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging is also being evaluated for functional characterization of atherosclerotic plaques. For all of these techniques, however, large-scale clinical trials are mandatory to define the prognostic importance of the imaging signals in terms of risk of future vascular events.

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Acknowledgement

Work described in this manuscript was part supported by Cambridge NIHR Biomedical Research Funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular and Immunological Sciences, University Federico II, Naples, Italy

    Pasquale Perrone-Filardi, Santo Dellegrottaglie, Pierluigi Costanzo, Caterina Marciano, Enrico Vassallo, Fabio Marsico, Donatella Ruggiero, Maria Piera Petretta & Massimo Chiariello

  2. Z. and M.A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute and M.-J. and H.R. Kravis Center for Cardiovascular Health, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    Santo Dellegrottaglie

  3. School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    James H. F. Rudd

  4. Department of Biomorphological and Functional Sciences, University Federico II, Naples, Italy

    Alberto Cuocolo

  5. Institute of Diagnostic and Nuclear Development, SDN Foundation, Naples, Italy

    Alberto Cuocolo

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  1. Pasquale Perrone-Filardi
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  2. Santo Dellegrottaglie
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Correspondence to Alberto Cuocolo.

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Perrone-Filardi, P., Dellegrottaglie, S., Rudd, J.H.F. et al. Molecular imaging of atherosclerosis in translational medicine. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 38, 969–975 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-010-1697-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-010-1697-5

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