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Optical Molecular Imaging of Inflammation and Calcification in Atherosclerosis

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Cardiovascular Imaging

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Abstract

Atherosclerotic plaque development is characterized by the presence of active inflammation, collagen remodeling, and the deposition of calcific mineral, and these processes have proven to be the main determinants of the biomechanical stability of the plaque. Collagen degradation due to proteases from inflammatory cells and/or the formation of spotty microcalcifications within the atherosclerotic fibrous cap can lead to plaque rupture and subsequent myocardial infarction or stroke. Therefore, the ability to monitor inflammation and calcification in situ could inform patient treatment options and prevent serious acute cardiovascular events. Commonly utilized imaging techniques lack the resolution to image these processes. In this chapter, we will discuss the promise of optical molecular imaging in imaging inflammation and calcification within atherosclerotic plaques. We will focus on data from preclinical studies performed in animal models of atherosclerosis, and we will extend our discussion into how these techniques may be fully realized in a clinical setting.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 3 Blackfan St., Room 1736, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Joshua D. Hutcheson PhD & Elena Aikawa MD, PhD

  2. Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Elena Aikawa MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Joshua D. Hutcheson PhD
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  2. Elena Aikawa MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Elena Aikawa MD, PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Elena Aikawa

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Sources of Funding

Dr. Aikawa is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01HL114805; R01HL109506) and Harvard Catalyst Reactor Program.

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© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Hutcheson, J.D., Aikawa, E. (2015). Optical Molecular Imaging of Inflammation and Calcification in Atherosclerosis. In: Aikawa, E. (eds) Cardiovascular Imaging. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09268-3_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09268-3_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-09267-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-09268-3

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