Stimulated-echo diffusion-weighted NMR imaging at 4.7 T successfully enabled the direct detection of subintimal lipid deposits in nonprotruding atherosclerotic lesions of human aortas.
Does a stimulated-echo diffusion-weighted NMR technique allow for the detection of lipid deposits in human atheroma?
This study demonstrates the first direct detection of lipid deposits in nonprotruding atherosclerotic lesions using a specialized NMR imaging technique.
NMR images of subintimal lipid deposits within the vessel walls of atherosclerotic human aortas were obtained at 37 and 27 degrees C at 4.7 T. A combination of a stimulated-echo and pulsed-field gradients was used for suppressing the mobile tissue water relative to the less mobile tissue lipids. At 27 degrees C there was also a substantial reduction of the subintimal lipid signal intensity, which is consistent with the characteristic phase transition of cholesteryl esters in human atheroma. These results represent the first direct detection of lipid deposits in nonprotruding atherosclerotic lesions with NMR imaging.
Altbach et al. (Thu,) conducted a other in Atherosclerosis. Stimulated-echo diffusion-weighted NMR imaging was evaluated on Detection of subintimal lipid deposits. Stimulated-echo diffusion-weighted NMR imaging at 4.7 T successfully enabled the direct detection of subintimal lipid deposits in nonprotruding atherosclerotic lesions of human aortas.