Gene expression and 18FDG uptake in atherosclerotic carotid plaques

Abstract

GLUT-1, HK2, CD68, and cathepsin K remained in both multivariate models and thus provided independent information regarding FDG uptake. We suggest that FDG uptake is a composite indicator of macrophage load, overall inflammatory activity and collagenolytic plaque destabilization. Accordingly, FDG-PET could prove to be an important predictor of cerebrovascular events in patients with carotid plaques.

Vascular imaging with positron emission tomography

“…The largest study to date, that examined over 100 subjects, found that those in the highest quartile of CRP had the greatest degree of vascular FDG uptake, regardless of whether they also had elevated LDL cholesterol or not [67]. Finally, in a study of carotid disease in patients undergoing endarterectomy, gene expression markers of vulnerability GLUT-1, CD68, cathepsin K and HK2 were found to predict the degree of arterial FDG accumulation [68].…”

Invasive or non-invasive imaging for detecting high-risk coronary lesions?

“…18 F-FDG signals within atherosclerotic plaques reflect the metabolic activity of macrophages and therefore plaque inflammation. Indeed, in vivo 18 F-FDG uptake is strongly correlated with macrophages density within excised carotid plaques, as well as gene expression associated with vascular inflammation [117,118]. Vascular 18 F-FDG signals have also been shown to be significantly correlated with presence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors (e.g.…”

Predicting Aortic Aneurysm Expansion by PET

“…The technique can be modified slightly (by increasing the 18 F-FDG circulation time) for application in arterial disease, such as atherosclerosis (20)(21)(22) and vasculitis (23), as a surrogate marker of inflammation. It is believed that the arterial 18 F-FDG signal reflects glucose accumulation, predominantly by macrophages (24) and other plaque inflammatory cells (25), which can be amplified by hypoxia (26). High levels of 18 F-FDG accumulation in the carotid arteries and aorta are markers of high-risk, unstable disease and may predict future clinical events (27).…”