Clinical Research Of Inlfammatory Cell Aggregation And Neovascularization In Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque

Background and Purpose: Monocytes and macrophages in the atheroscleroticplaque lead to plaque instability. The aims of the study are to investigate if theplaque neovascularization lead to inflammation.Methods: The patients were consecutively enrolled if the carotid intima-mediathickness (IMT) was>2mm by duplex ultrasound. The patients then underwentboth dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI)，contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging（SEUS）and18F-FDG positron emissiontomography (PET). Target-background ratio (TBR)≥1.25or <1.25served as thecutoff point of inflammatory or non inflammatory.Results:26patients underwent bilateral carotid DCE-MRI，23patients SEUS，and24patients PET-CT. IMAX%/AREA was moderate positive correlated withplasma volume(Vp), r=0.61, P=0.00, and minor positive correlated with transferconstant(Ktrans), r=0.34, P=0.10.155plaques underwent both DCE-MRI andPET-CT. The results showed that there was no significant difference in MRI between the TBR≥1.25（n=61） and <1.25（n=94） group, P>0.05. Neitherthere was any significant difference in Vp and Ktrans between the TBR≥1.25and <1.25, P>0.05.Conclusion: Because of limited sample size the study failed to demonstrate thecorrelation between plaque neovascularization and inflammatory process.