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Assessment of inactive, active and mixed atherosclerotic plaques by 18F-FDG-PET; an age group-based correlation with cardiovascular risk factors

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Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to assess the atherosclerotic plaques in a large asymptomatic population stratified based on age and sex. Methods [18F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG)-PET/CT of 100 men and 100 women, divided in four age groups were examined to assess FDG-accumulating active, calcified inactive and mixed atherosclerotic plaques in eight defined vessel segments. Results There was a high correlation between the total number of cardiovascular risk factors and the number of FDG-accumulating active plaques as well as the number of calcified inactive plaques. There was a significant difference in the number of plaques between all age-groups except for active plaques in age groups 60–70 and 80–90 years. Conclusions There is a correlation between the number of cardiovascular risk factors and the number of FDG-accumulating atherosclerotic lesions in this patient material. Statin-treatment was associated with significantly lower numbers of active plaques.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by the Karolinska University Hospital.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, The Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

    Johan Wassélius, Stig Larsson, Anders Sundin & Hans Jacobsson

  2. Department of Radiology, The Karolinska University Hospital, 17176, Stockholm, Sweden

    Johan Wassélius, Anders Sundin & Hans Jacobsson

  3. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

    Stig Larsson

Authors
  1. Johan Wassélius
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  2. Stig Larsson
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  4. Hans Jacobsson
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Correspondence to Johan Wassélius.

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Wassélius, J., Larsson, S., Sundin, A. et al. Assessment of inactive, active and mixed atherosclerotic plaques by 18F-FDG-PET; an age group-based correlation with cardiovascular risk factors. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 25, 133–140 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-008-9366-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-008-9366-5

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