BACKGROUND Hypertensive patients develop carotid atherosclerotic plaques with enhanced inflammation. Full-length osteopontin (OPN-FL), a multifunctional protein whose levels are elevated in association with atherosclerosis, is cleaved by thrombin and matrix metalloproteinases to form a C-terminal and a putatively biologically active N-terminal fragment (OPN-C, OPN-N, respectively). We conducted...

Abstract Background Carotid plaque ulceration has been associated with imaging characteristics of high risk future events (plaque vulnerability) in patients a significant degree stenosis, while little is known about its role lesser stenosis and association markers vascular inflammation. Purpose We evaluated the between vulnerability inflammation detected by different tests. Methods One hundred ...

The central role of inflammation in atherogenesis has gained broad acceptance and has revolutionized our understanding of this common disease. This recognition has heightened interest in identifying the specific mediators and mechanisms that contribute to the interplay between risk factors (traditional and emerging), inflammation, and the altered biology of the arterial wall that regulates plaq...

BACKGROUND Fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (FDG PET) imaging of atherosclerosis has been used to quantify plaque inflammation and to measure the effect of plaque-stabilizing drugs. We explored how atherosclerotic plaque inflammation varies across arterial territories and how it relates to arterial calcification. We also tested the hypotheses that the degree of local arterial inf...

A 62-year-old man was admitted after recurrent transient left-sided weakness and sensory loss. Ultrasound (US) examination revealed a 70% narrowing of the right proximal internal carotid artery (ICA). Contrast-enhanced US suggested plaque neovascularization (figure, A). Carotid endarterectomy of the right ICA was performed. Immunohistochemistry of the specimen showed, corresponding to the US fi...

Despite substantial advances in the diagnosis and management of coronary artery disease, acute coronary events continue to occur in many patients. It has been increasingly realized that the lesions responsible for acute events may not necessarily be critically obstructive and hence not be associated with inducible ischemia. Various morphologic features of plaque vulnerability have been describe...

Inflammation is a recognized risk factor for the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque. USPIO-enhanced MRI imaging is a promising non-invasive method to identify high-risk atheromatous plaque inflammation in vivo in humans, in which areas of focal signal loss on MR images have been shown to correspond to the location of activated macrophages, typically at the shoulder regions of the plaque. This is...

AIMS Inflammation is a key factor in the development of plaque rupture and acute cardiovascular events. Although imaging techniques can be used to identify vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques, we are lacking non-invasive methods, such as plasma markers of plaque inflammation that could help to identify presence of vulnerable plaques. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether increa...

Inflammatory activity in atherosclerotic plaque is a risk factor for plaque rupture and atherothrombosis and may direct interventional therapy. Inflammatory activity can be evaluated at the (sub)cellular level using in vivo molecular MRI. This paper reviews recent progress in contrast-enhanced molecular MRI to visualize atherosclerotic plaque inflammation. Various MRI contrast agents, among oth...

BACKGROUND Multiple complex stenoses, plaque fissures, and widespread coronary inflammation are common in acute coronary syndromes. A systemic cause of atherosclerotic plaque instability is also suggested by studies of ischemic cerebrovascular disease. We investigated the association between coronary and carotid plaque instability and the potential common causal role of inflammation. METHODS ...