Arterial inflammation in regions that are yet to develop atherosclerotic plaques has been detected by the researchers using advanced PET/MRI technology. The research team used this innovative technology also to analyze the inflammatory process in the arteries of a group of people who had already developed atherosclerotic plaques. The findings of the study are published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).
The study examined the largest cohort examined by PET/MRI to date. The results show, for the first time, that inflammation is present at early stages of atherosclerosis, above all in regions that have not developed plaques. The study also shows that this arterial atherosclerosis can be an early indication of the later appearance of plaques that underlie cardiovascular disease and events such as heart attack and stroke. The researchers are currently analyzing the role of arterial inflammation in this process; this information will help to establish early diagnosis and develop new anti-inflammatory therapies for this disease.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which the arteries become hard and narrow, leading to restricted blood flow.
Although atherosclerosis is known to be a chronic inflammatory disease, the prevalence and distribution of inflammation at early disease stages was unknown. PESA-CNIC-Santander is a prospective study led by Dr. Valentín Fuster that uses innovative imaging technologies to analyze more than 4000 middle-aged participants and evaluate the presence and development of atherosclerosis at subclinical stages--before symptoms appear.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
The dilatation and localized bulging of a part of aorta in the abdominal part of patient's body owing to weakness of its walls is called abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Vascular inflammation
In the words of Leticia Fernández-Friera, study co-author and a cardiologist at the CNIC and HM Montepríncipe University Hospital, the main goal of the study "was to characterize vascular inflammation in people with known subclinical atherosclerosis by examining three territories: the carotid arteries, which supply blood to the head; the aorta, the body's largest artery; and the iliofemoral arteries, which supply blood to the legs."
Dr. Valentín Fuster, CNIC Director and lead investigator on the project, emphasized the power of modern diagnostic imaging technology, which "has revealed that inflammation is present in only 10% of established plaques." Study coauthor Javier Sanz explained that "the atherosclerotic plaques showing signs of inflammation are large, have a high cholesterol content, and tend to be located in the femoral arteries at the arterial bifurcations." Nevertheless, "most inflammation identified in the arteries of this PESA study subpopulation are located in vessel regions free of atherosclerotic plaques."
Risk factors
Sanz went on to explain that the study data show inflammation in the arteries of "almost half of the participants, occurring more frequently in the femoral arteries." Fernández-Friera added, "inflammation was associated with the presence of more risk factors; obesity and smoking in particular were independent predictors of the presence of arterial inflammation."
Dr. Fuster emphasized that these findings demonstrate the power of this technology to produce live images of inflammation related to systemic atherosclerosis, thus enabling the study of this disease in early stages and the identification of individuals likely to benefit from early medical intervention. "Future studies should investigate whether inflammation precedes the development of the plaque and assess how the quantification of inflammation might contribute to the evaluation of cardiovascular risk."
Source: Eurekalert
Aortic Dissection
Aortic dissection refers to a serious condition where there is a tear in the wall of a major artery leading to blood flow within the layers of the aorta.
 Cholesteryl Ester Storage DiseaseCholesteryl ester storage disease (CESD) is a rare inherited disease that results from the accumulation of lipids in the body. | Advertisement
|
Recommended Reading
Latest Heart Disease News
