Zhao Q M, Zhao X, Feng T T, Zhang M D, Zhuang X C, Zhao X C, Zhang X X, Su G
Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, China -
Q J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2014 Dec;58(4):440-50. Epub 2014 Feb 11.
In vivo dynamic evaluation of atherosclerosis could be clinically significant in the prevention of cardiovascular events. We aimed to monitor Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) uptake in different stages of atherosclerosis, and investigate the feasibility of detecting vulnerable plaques using positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) angiography.
Twenty-two male NZW rabbits were divided into two groups: atherosclerosis group (group A, N.=11) and atherosclerosis and statin group (group S, N.=11). The rabbits underwent two pharmacological triggerings to induce thrombus at the 18th week. In vivo PET/CT scans were performed on four time points: before cholesterol diet (baseline, N.=6), at 8th week (the middle-of-feeding, N.=4), at 18th week (the end-of-feeding, N.=22) and after triggering (post-triggering, N.=15). 18F-FDG uptake by the aorta was expressed as maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and mean SUV (SUVmean). SUVs were measured on serial 7.5 mm arterial segments.
SUVmean and SUVmax were 0.449±0.108 and 0.550±0.132 at baseline, 0.694±0.117 and 0.754±0.129 at the middle-of-feeding, 0.788±0.121 and 0.861±0.139 in group A, and 0.651±0.194 and 0.736±0.243 in group S at the end-of feeding before triggering. SUVmean and SUVmax were 1.128±0.420 and 1.302±0.489 in thrombosis group, 0.774±0.159 and 0.859±0.191 in non-thrombosis group after triggering. Thrombus were identified in 10 of 22 rabbits (45.5%): 8 of 11 (72.3%) in group A, and 2 of 11 (18.2%) in group S (P<0.001).
The inflammatory states of atherosclerosis and vulnerable plaque can be detected by quantitative analysis of 18F-FDG uptake. PET/CT may be used for predicting thrombosis events in patients with atherosclerotic disease.
动脉粥样硬化的体内动态评估在预防心血管事件方面可能具有临床意义。我们旨在监测动脉粥样硬化不同阶段的氟-18氟脱氧葡萄糖（18F-FDG）摄取情况，并研究使用正电子发射断层扫描/计算机断层扫描（PET/CT）血管造影检测易损斑块的可行性。
22只雄性新西兰白兔分为两组：动脉粥样硬化组（A组，n = 11）和动脉粥样硬化与他汀组（S组，n = 11）。在第18周对兔子进行两次药物激发以诱导血栓形成。在四个时间点进行体内PET/CT扫描：胆固醇饮食前（基线，n = 6）、第8周（喂养中期，n = 4）、第18周（喂养末期，n = 22）和激发后（激发后，n = 15）。主动脉的18F-FDG摄取以最大标准化摄取值（SUVmax）和平均SUV（SUVmean）表示。SUV在连续的7.5mm动脉节段上测量。
在激发前喂养末期，A组的SUVmean和SUVmax分别为0.449±0.108和0.550±0.132，喂养中期为0.694±0.117和0.754±0.129，喂养末期为0.788±0.121和0.861±0.139；S组分别为0.651±0.194和0.736±0.243。激发后，血栓形成组的SUVmean和SUVmax分别为1.128±0.420和1.302±0.489，非血栓形成组为0.774±0.159和0.859±0.191。22只兔子中有10只（45.5%）发现血栓：A组11只中有8只（72.3%），S组11只中有2只（18.2%）（P<0.001）。
通过对18F-FDG摄取的定量分析可检测动脉粥样硬化和易损斑块的炎症状态。PET/CT可用于预测动脉粥样硬化疾病患者的血栓形成事件。
