Abstract 11833: Lipid-rich Core Quantification in Carotid Atherosclerosis Using MRI T2 Mapping - Relation to Clinical Presentation and Plaque Macrophage Activation

• DOI: 10.1161/circ.132.suppl_3.11833
• Publication Date: 2024-04-23T10:56:22Z
• Authors: Joshua T Chai; Luca Biasiolli; Linqing Li; Mohammad Alkhalil; Francesca Galassi; Chris Darby; Alison Halliday; Linda Hands; Timothy Magee; Jeremy Perkins; Ed Sideso; Ashok Handa; Peter Jezzard; Matthew D Robson; Robin P Choudhury
• Keywords: Presentation (obstetrics); Vulnerable plaque; Fibrous cap; Foam cell

Introduction: Non-invasive plaque lipid quantification is appealing both for treatment selection and as predictor of future events. However, current MRI methods are insensitive, require a coalesced mass rely on multicontrast acquisition. We sought to: (1) provide tissue validation quantitative T2 maps to measure lipid; (2) investigate whether this technique could discern differences in characteristics between symptomatic asymptomatic plaques. also hypothesised that content correlates with differential macrophage activation. Methods: 40 patients scheduled carotid endarterectomy were recruited 3T MRI. Lipid Area was derived from segmented compared directly defined by histology. Plaque macrophages procured using laser-capture microdissection frozen subjected microarray analysis. Results: (%) mapping histology showed excellent correlation, individual slices (R = 0.85, P < 0.001) average 0.83, 0.001). significantly higher plaques (31.5 ± 3.7% vs. 15.8 3.1%, 0.005) despite similar degrees stenosis. ROC curve analysis has fair good ability discriminate Finally, gene set enrichment analysis, map positively correlated distinct patterns activation e.g. INF-STAT1 pathway (P 0.01, FDR 0.25). Conclusions: accurately quantifies non-invasively. Greater found plaques; inflammatory macrophages. This new may find role determining optimum providing an indication intensive lipid-lowering, or anti-inflammatory therapy.