LESION QUANTIFICATION IN HUMAN CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS

描述(申请人提供)：动脉粥样硬化病变 心血管系统的严重程度范围很广，从有限的脂肪条纹到 广泛而复杂的斑块。介于这两个极端之间的是病变 在表面上特别容易受到破坏，经常导致 血栓形成和血管闭塞。这些病变的非侵入性检测 VIVO将提供有价值的信息，指导适当的医疗和 手术干预，以及随着时间的推移监测药物治疗。这 该项目涉及对人类颈动脉粥样硬化病变的综合研究。 动脉，提供几个重要实验优势的血管， 包括手术组织的可用性(数量和质量)和相对容易程度 在活体内进行成像。该项目的一个主要目标是开发和 改进体内核磁共振成像，使其能够准确地量化物理 颈动脉粥样硬化病变的大小(例如残留管腔面积、管壁 厚度、斑块面积)。次要的 目标是将体内核磁共振发展到可以检测到的水平， 区分并可能量化特定的化学成分 病变(如钙化、富脂、纤维化、坏死区和血栓区)。 这些目标将通过三个具体目标来实现： 目标1是区分和评估颈动脉病变的主要组成部分 他们在体内和体外获得的磁共振图像。它们独特的T1组合， T2，并且质子密度将使用3D等值线图来识别和测量， 参数成像和特征空间分析。 目标2将通过组织学和形态计量学方法，使用常规和微阵列组织技术来量化颈动脉病变成分，并使用这些措施来 校准相应的磁共振图像。 目的3利用无创性活体MRI监测他汀类药物治疗对狭窄程度大于40%的患者颈动脉粥样硬化病变特征的影响。来自所有切片的数据将被用来生成显示体积的动脉轮廓， 斑块的径向位置和线性位置。成功执行 该项目将提供有价值的非侵入性技术，用于监测 药物干预对动脉粥样硬化病变的疗效。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Atherosclerotic lesions in the cardiovascular system range widely in severity from the limited fatty streak to the extensive complicated plaque. Between these two extremes are lesions that are especially vulnerable to disruption at their surface, often leading to thrombosis and vessel occlusion. The non-invasive detection of these lesions in vivo would provide valuable information for guiding appropriate medical and surgical intervention, as well as monitoring drug therapy over time. This project involves integrated studies on atherosclerotic lesions in human carotid arteries, vessels that afford several important experimental advantages, including availability of surgical tissue (number and mass) and relative ease of imaging in vivo. A primary objective of this project is to develop and refine in vivo MRI to a state where it can accurately quantify physical dimensions of carotid atherosclerotic lesions (e.g. residual lumen area, wall thickness, plaque area) at specific sites throughout the vessel. A secondary objective is to develop in vivo MRI to a level where it can detect, discriminate among and possibly quantify specific chemical components of lesions (e.g. calcified, lipid-rich, fibrotic, necrotic and thrombotic areas). These objectives will be pursued through three specific aims: AIM 1 is to differentiate and estimate the major components of carotid lesions based on their MR images acquired in vivo and ex vivo. Their unique combinations of T1, T2, and proton density will be identified and measured using 3D contour plots, parametric imaging, and feature space analysis. AIM 2 will be to quantify carotid lesion components by histologic and morphometric methods, using conventional and microarray tissue techniques, and to use these measures to calibrate corresponding MR images. AIM 3 is to use non-invasive in vivo MRI to monitor the effect of statin therapy on carotid atherosclerotic lesion characteristics in patients with greater than 40 percent stenosis. Data from all slices will be used to generate arterial profiles showing the volume, radial position, and linear location of the plaque. Successful execution of this project should provide valuable non-invasive technology for monitoring the efficacy of medical intervention on atherosclerotic lesions.