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Temporal dependence of in vivo USPIO-enhanced MRI signal changes in human carotid atheromatous plaques

  • Diagnostic Neuroradiology
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Abstract

Introduction

Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO)-enhanced MRI has been shown to be a useful modality to image activated macrophages in vivo, which are principally responsible for plaque inflammation. This study determined the optimum imaging time-window to detect maximal signal change post-USPIO infusion using T1-weighted (T1w), T2*-weighted (T2*w) and quantitative T2* (qT2*) imaging.

Methods

Six patients with an asymptomatic carotid stenosis underwent high resolution T1w, T2*w and qT2* MR imaging of their carotid arteries at 1.5 T. Imaging was performed before and at 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 h after USPIO (Sinerem™, Guerbet, France) infusion. Each slice showing atherosclerotic plaque was manually segmented into quadrants and signal changes in each quadrant were fitted to an exponential power function to model the optimum time for post-infusion imaging.

Results

The power function determining the mean time to convergence for all patients was 46, 41 and 39 h for the T1w, T2*w and qT2* sequences, respectively. When modelling each patient individually, 90% of the maximum signal intensity change was observed at 36 h for three, four and six patients on T1w, T2*w and qT2*, respectively. The rates of signal change decrease after this period but signal change was still evident up to 96 h.

Conclusion

This study showed that a suitable imaging window for T1w, T2*w and qT2* signal changes post-USPIO infusion was between 36 and 48 h. Logistically, this would be convenient in bringing patients back for one post-contrast MRI, but validation is required in a larger cohort of patients.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the MR radiographers, Ilse Joubert, Ruth Beavon and Elzare Vanrooyen for their hard work and Tim Baynes, Specialist Research Nurse, for his dedication and support. This work was supported by a National Institute of Health Biomedical Research Centre grant.

Conflict of interest statement

SRM is an employee of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). JHG is a consultant to GSK.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Department of Radiology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK

    T. Y. Tang, A. J. Patterson, M. J. Graves, S. P. S. Howarth, J. M. U-King-Im, Z. Y. Li, U. Sadat, V. E. Young & J. H. Gillard

  2. Biostatistics and Data Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Harlow, UK

    S. R. Miller

  3. Cambridge Vascular Unit, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK

    T. Y. Tang, U. Sadat, S. R. Walsh, J. R. Boyle & M. E. Gaunt

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  1. T. Y. Tang
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  2. A. J. Patterson
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  3. S. R. Miller
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  4. M. J. Graves
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  5. S. P. S. Howarth
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  6. J. M. U-King-Im
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  7. Z. Y. Li
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  8. U. Sadat
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  9. V. E. Young
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  11. J. R. Boyle
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  12. M. E. Gaunt
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  13. J. H. Gillard
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. H. Gillard.

Additional information

Sources of funding: GlaxoSmithKline and The Stroke Association

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Tang, T.Y., Patterson, A.J., Miller, S.R. et al. Temporal dependence of in vivo USPIO-enhanced MRI signal changes in human carotid atheromatous plaques. Neuroradiology 51, 457–465 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-009-0523-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-009-0523-x

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