Progression and Regression of Atherosclerotic Lesions

作者：Gérard Helft, Stephen Grant Worthley, Valentı́n Fuster, Zahi Adel Fayad, Azfar Zaman, Roberto Corti, John T. Fallon, Juan J. Badimón · 发表于：Circulation · 年份：2002 · DOI：10.1161/hc0802.104325 · 被引用次数：237 · 研究领域：Cerebrovascular and Carotid Artery Diseases、Coronary Interventions and Diagnostics、Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications

BACKGROUND: Modification or stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques has been proposed as the mechanism responsible for the beneficial clinical effect of lipid-lowering therapies. An imaging modality able to quantify atherosclerotic plaque composition could potentially allow not only the identification of these vulnerable atherosclerotic lesions, but also monitoring of the effects of therapeutic interventions on plaque composition. Our aim was to monitor changes in burden and composition of atherosclerotic plaques in a rabbit model of complex atherosclerosis using serial noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS AND RESULTS: Aortic atherosclerotic lesions were induced in rabbits and the animals randomized to continue an atherogenic diet (atherosclerosis progression) or resume normal chow (atherosclerosis regression) for 6 months. MRI of the aorta was performed at 3 time points in each rabbit, as follows: baseline, after atherosclerosis induction (9 months old), and after atherosclerosis regression or progression (15 months old). Histopathologic correlation with MRI was performed. There was a significant (P<0.0001) reduction in atherosclerotic burden in the regression group, and an increase in the progression group. There was a significant (P<0.001) reduction in the lipidic component of plaques in the regression group, and an increase in the progression group. A small, nonsignificant increase in the fibrotic plaque components was noted in the regression group, but ...