Increased Vascular Permeability Measured With an Albumin-Binding Magnetic Resonance Contrast Agent Is a Surrogate Marker of Rupture-Prone Atherosclerotic Plaque.

ABSTRACT: Compromised structural integrity of the endothelium and higher microvessel density increase vascular permeability. We investigated whether vascular permeability measured in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging using the albumin-binding contrast agent, gadofosveset, is a surrogate marker of rupture-prone atherosclerotic plaque in a rabbit model. New Zealand white rabbits (n=10) were rendered atherosclerotic by cholesterol-diet and endothelial denudation. Plaque rupture was triggered with Russell's viper venom and histamine. Animals were imaged pre-triggering, at 3 and 12 weeks, to quantify plaque area, vascular permeability, vasodilation, and stiffness and post-triggering to identify thrombus. Plaques identified on the pretrigger scans were classified as stable or rupture-prone based on the a

SUBMITTER: Phinikaridou A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5388187 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature