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Magnetic resonance molecular imaging contrast agents and their application in atherosclerosis
Willem J M Mulder1, Gustav J Strijkers, Esad Vucic
1Sinai Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute and Imaging Science Laboratories, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. willem.mulder@mountsinai.org
Insights
Imaging atherosclerosis, a key cause of heart disease, is crucial for early detection. Molecular imaging agents can detect specific plaque markers, aiding in differentiating stable from unstable lesions for better patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Medical Imaging
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Heart disease, primarily caused by atherosclerotic plaque rupture, is a leading cause of mortality.
- Atherosclerosis is a progressive condition necessitating in vivo imaging for monitoring disease stages.
- Key molecular markers like macrophages and integrins are crucial targets for imaging atherosclerotic lesions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current molecular imaging strategies for atherosclerosis.
- To highlight agents detecting specific markers in atherosclerotic plaques.
- To discuss the differentiation of stable versus unstable plaques using imaging.
Main Methods:
- Review of molecular imaging agents for atherosclerosis.
- Discussion of contrast generation in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Examples of targeted molecular imaging agents for plaque markers.
Main Results:
- Identification of specific imaging markers for atherosclerosis stages.
- Demonstration of MRI contrast agent types (T1, T2, CEST, 19F).
- Successful detection of plaque markers using molecular imaging agents.
Conclusions:
- Molecular imaging offers promising tools for visualizing atherosclerosis.
- Targeted agents can identify key markers, aiding in plaque characterization.
- Advanced imaging techniques are vital for managing heart disease progression.
Abstract:
Heart disease is the most prevalent cause of mortality in the Western world and is most frequently caused by rupture of lesions in the arteries, which are formed by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease, and therefore, there is a strong motivation to be able to image the stages of this disease in vivo. The pathogenesis of this disease is now well established, and a number of markers such as macrophages, vascular adhesion molecules, fibrin, and the alphanubeta3-integrin have been identified that are of particular interest for imaging. Furthermore, the differentiation between the stable and unstable plaque with imaging is a central goal of the field. Contrast can be generated in magnetic resonance imaging through the application of several types of agents such as T1, T2, chemical exchange saturation transfer or 19F-based imaging agents. Subsequent to the discussion of the above topics, we will describe some examples of molecular imaging agents that successfully detect specific markers in atherosclerotic plaques that are of interest in several stages of this disease.
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