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(Stroke. 2008;39:2144.)
© 2008 American Heart Association, Inc.

Research Letters

Correlation of Carotid Atheromatous Plaque Inflammation Using USPIO-Enhanced MR Imaging With Degree of Luminal Stenosis

Tjun Y. Tang, MRCS; Simon P.S. Howarth, MRCS; Sam R. Miller, MSc; Martin J. Graves, MSc; Jean-Marie U-King-Im, MRCS; Zhi-Yong Li, PhD; Stewart R. Walsh, MSc; Andrew J. Patterson, PhD; Peter J. Kirkpatrick, FMedSci; Elizabeth A. Warburton, DM; Kevin Varty, MD; Michael E. Gaunt, MD Jonathan H. Gillard, MD

From the University Department of Radiology (T.Y.T., S.P.S.H., M.J.G., J.M.U., Z.Y.L., A.J.P., J.H.G.), Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK; Biostatistics and Data Sciences (S.R.M.), GlaxoSmithKline, Harlow, UK; Cambridge Vascular Unit (T.Y.T., S.R.W., K.V., M.E.G.), Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK; Academic Department of Neurosurgery (S.P.S.H., P.J.K.), Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK; and the Department of Clinical Neurosciences (E.A.W.), Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.

Correspondence to Jonathan H. Gillard, BSc, MD, FRCR, Reader/Honorary Consultant Neuroradiologist, University Department of Radiology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, United Kingdom. E-mail jhg21{at}cam.ac.uk

Background and Purpose— Inflammation is a recognized risk factor for the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque. The study explores the relationship between the degree of Magnetic Resonance (MR)–defined inflammation using Ultra Small Super-Paramagnetic Iron Oxide (USPIO) particles and the severity of luminal stenosis in asymptomatic carotid plaques.

Methods— Seventy-one patients with an asymptomatic carotid stenosis of 40% underwent multi-sequence USPIO-enhanced MR imaging. Stenosis severity was measured according to the NASCET and ECST methods.

Results— No demonstrable relationship between inflammation as measured by USPIO-enhanced signal change and the degree of luminal stenosis was found.

Conclusions— Inflammation and stenosis are likely to be independent risk factors, although this needs to be further validated.

Key Words: asymptomatic carotid stenosis • atherosclerosis • USPIO • MRI • inflammation • plaque vulnerability

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