Abstract
Atherosclerosis and its thrombotic complications represent the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the industrialized countries. Despite recent advances in the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease, a substantial number of patients still die from acute coronary syndromes. Recently, atherosclerotic plaque composition rather than the degree of arterial stenosis has been shown to reflect the plaque vulnerability, thus contributing to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Vulnerable plaques have a large lipidrich necrotic core, a thin-fibrous cap and numerous inflammatory cells. Among them, macrophage activation plays a central role in vascular inflammation and plaque instability within the atherosclerosis, being strongly involved in acute coronary syndromes. Various morphologic features of plaque vulnerability have been described by computed tomography angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, intravascular ultrasound, and optical coherence tomography. Molecular imaging is the tool best suited for identifying metabolically active macrophages. Indeed, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is capable of identifying and quantifying vascular inflammation characterized by macrophage activation within the atherosclerotic plaques. So, FDG-PET might be a feasible clinical tool for detecting vulnerable plaques and evaluating the efficacy of drugs in plaque instability. In this paper, we review the clinical utility of FDG-PET imaging in identifying patients at risk of plaque rupture and resultantly prone to cardiovascular disease.
Keywords: Atherosclerosis, vulnerable plaque, inflammation, molecular imaging, 18F-labeled FDG-PET.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Molecular Imaging of Vascular Inflammation
Volume: 20 Issue: 14
Author(s): Nobuhiro Tahara, Atsuko Tahara, Akihiro Honda, Yoshikazu Nitta, Norihiro Kodama, Sho-ichi Yamagishi and Tsutomu Imaizumi
Affiliation:
Keywords: Atherosclerosis, vulnerable plaque, inflammation, molecular imaging, 18F-labeled FDG-PET.
Abstract: Atherosclerosis and its thrombotic complications represent the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the industrialized countries. Despite recent advances in the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease, a substantial number of patients still die from acute coronary syndromes. Recently, atherosclerotic plaque composition rather than the degree of arterial stenosis has been shown to reflect the plaque vulnerability, thus contributing to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Vulnerable plaques have a large lipidrich necrotic core, a thin-fibrous cap and numerous inflammatory cells. Among them, macrophage activation plays a central role in vascular inflammation and plaque instability within the atherosclerosis, being strongly involved in acute coronary syndromes. Various morphologic features of plaque vulnerability have been described by computed tomography angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, intravascular ultrasound, and optical coherence tomography. Molecular imaging is the tool best suited for identifying metabolically active macrophages. Indeed, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is capable of identifying and quantifying vascular inflammation characterized by macrophage activation within the atherosclerotic plaques. So, FDG-PET might be a feasible clinical tool for detecting vulnerable plaques and evaluating the efficacy of drugs in plaque instability. In this paper, we review the clinical utility of FDG-PET imaging in identifying patients at risk of plaque rupture and resultantly prone to cardiovascular disease.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Tahara Nobuhiro, Tahara Atsuko, Honda Akihiro, Nitta Yoshikazu, Kodama Norihiro, Yamagishi Sho-ichi and Imaizumi Tsutomu, Molecular Imaging of Vascular Inflammation, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2014; 20 (14) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13816128113199990479
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13816128113199990479 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Synthesis and Preliminary Antihyperlipidaemic Activities Evaluation of Andrographolide Derivatives
Medicinal Chemistry Antioxidant to Treat Osteoarthritis: Dream or Reality?
Current Drug Targets Chemical and Physical Properties and Potential Mechanisms: Melatonin as a Broad Spectrum Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenger
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Plant Defensins and Defensin-Like Peptides - Biological Activities and Biotechnological Applications
Current Pharmaceutical Design An Efficient Immobilization of Cholesterol Oxidase from Bacillus sp. COX-T<sub>3</sub> onto Psyllium Husk Fibers
Current Biotechnology Antioxidant Therapy in Alzheimers Disease: Theory and Practice
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Vitamin D in Atherosclerosis, Vascular Disease, and Endothelial Function
Current Drug Targets Effect of Aging On Angiogenesis and Arteriogenesis
Current Cardiology Reviews N6-methyladenine RNA Modification (m<sup>6</sup>A): An Emerging Regulator of Metabolic Diseases
Current Drug Targets Insulin Resistance in the Early Stages of Renal Failure: Implications for Cardiovascular Risk
Current Diabetes Reviews Carotenoids and Cardiovascular Risk
Current Pharmaceutical Design Editorial [Hot Topic: Modifying Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Epidemiology and Characteristics of Hypertension-Related Disorders (Executive Guest Editor: Aurelio Leone)]
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Common Mycobacterial Antigens and their Importance in the Treatment of Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design Current Indications for Infective Endocarditis Antibiotic Prophylaxis
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Evidence for Pleiotropic Effects of Statins in Clinical Trials
Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Discontinued) Genetics of the First Seven Proprotein Convertase Enzymes in Health and Disease
Current Genomics Risk Factors and Potential Preventive Measures for Vascular Disease Progression in Hemodialysis Patients
Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued) Early Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis: The Childhood Obesity
Current Pharmaceutical Design In Silico hERG Modeling: Challenges and Progress
Current Computer-Aided Drug Design Effects of Ganoderma Lucidum on Contractile Dysfunction of the Rabbit Urinary Bladder using an In-Vitro Model of Ischemia/Reperfusion
The Natural Products Journal