Inflammatory Atherosclerotic Plaque Can Be Reproducibly Assessed By 3T Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI for Multi- Center Studies

Introduction Inflammation plays an important role in both atherosclerotic plaque progression and rupture [1], which has led to an interest in treatments with anti-inflammatory effects. To assess and monitor inflammation in vivo, dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI has been previously demonstrated [2]. Kinetic parameters derived from DCE-MRI, including the transfer constant (K) and partial plasma volume (vp), correspond to permeability and blood supply, which are related to inflammatory processes. Histological investigations have shown that K and vp correlate with macrophage and neovessel content of atherosclerotic plaque when measured in either the plaque [2] or adventitia [3]. However, the inter-scan reproducibility of these kinetic parameters has not been investigated for multi-center studies, which is essential for prospective studies. In this study, we sought to establish the reproducibility of K and vp in atherosclerotic plaque using 3T scanners in a multi-center design.