COMPOSITIONAL ANALYSIS OF PLAQUE ELEMENTS IN CAROTID ATHEROMAS

这个子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和调查员(PI)可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可能会出现在其他CRISE条目中。列出的机构是针对中心的，而不一定是针对调查员的机构。识别颈动脉粥样硬化的特征可以预测其破裂和随后的血栓形成的易感性，这可能允许早期干预以降低中风的风险。MRI是一种最有前途的无创成像技术，用于评估颈动脉粥样硬化，因为它提供了良好的组织对比度和足够的分辨率来区分这些特征。斑块的某些成分似乎选择性地增强后，服用了基于Gd的造影剂。由于螯合Gd化合物的亲水性不同，预计由于不同的流体静力相互作用，动脉粥样硬化内的增强模式将不同。了解这些成分的差异可能有助于识别脆弱的斑块。例如，胶原性纤维帽容易破裂，导致脑血管事件，而富含相对亲水性的蛋白多糖基质的纤维帽不会破裂。在这项研究中，我们的目标是开发两种市面上可买到的不同亲水性的格拉基造影剂，并通过增强模式和与组织病理学分析的直接相关性来确定斑块的组成。具体目的：描述颈动脉粥样斑块成分中增强模式的差异。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Identifying features of carotid atheroma that may predict its vulnerability to rupture with subsequent thrombus formation may allow for earlier intervention to reduce the risk of stroke. MRI is a most promising non-invasive imaging technique for the evaluation of carotid atheroma because it offers excellent tissue contrast with enough resolution to discriminate these features. Certain components of plaque appear to selectively enhance following the administration of gadolinium-based contrast agents. Because of differences in hydrophilicity of the chelated gadolinium compounds, it is expected that enhancement patterns within the atheroma will differ due to differential hydrostatic interactions. Understanding these compositional differences might allow for the identification of vulnerable plaques. For example, collagenous fibrous caps tend to rupture leading to a cerebrovascular event whereas fibrous caps rich in the relatively hydrophilic proteoglycan matrix do not rupture. In this study we aim to exploit two commercially available gadolinium-based contrast agents that vary in hydrophilicity and determine plaque composition by the enhancement pattern and direct correlation with histopathologic analysis. SPECIFIC AIMS: To characterize the differences in pattern of enhancement in the constituents of carotid atheromatous plaques.