Human Coronary Artery Lesions: 900 MHz Magnetic Resonance Micro Imaging, NMR Spectroscopy, Histopathology and Oxidative Stress Markers

Abstract

However, MRI measures lumen volume, wall thickness, thrombus size, total plaque volume and characterize the composition of the plaques. Noninvasive MRI is emerging tool for identification of flow-limiting coronary Stenoses, calcified plaques, imaging of the atherothrombotic lesions, measurement of atherosclerotic burden, and ex vivo characterization of the Abstract Aim: 900 MHz Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques measured the dimensions of atheroma and stenosis in excised human coronary plaque disruption and lipid disorder due to oxidative stress.Hypothesis: Coronary atheroma is a lipid disorder and MRI visible. Materials and Methods:Contiguous cross-sectional T2-weighted fast spin echo MRI images were point-by-point compared with coronary histopathology for quantitation of coronary wall and plaque features. Coronary atheroma tissues were used for NMR spectroscopy and oxidative stress content analysis.Results: 900 MHz MRI images showed distinct measurable wall thickness and vessel radii. The quantitative comparison of lumen areas and wall thickness in endarterectomy specimens using MRI images and histology images showed mean difference 5.0 % for lumen area and 4.5 % for wall thickness. MRI data correlated with the histopathology for aortic wall thickness (R 2 =0.92, P < 0.0001), plaque size (R 2 =0.99, P < 0.0001) and vessel radii (R2=0.79, P < 0.0001). MRI images and histological sections showed intraluminal thrombus and plaque disruption. High-resolution NMR peaks suggested the lipid-rich nature of coronary plaque due to presence of triglycerides, phospholipids, sterols and fatty acids. Oxidative stress markers were higher in plaque bearing coronary artery homogenates than the normal coronary artery homogenates. Ex vivo, 900 MHz MRI reliably determined the presence, location, and size of the thrombus and % stenosis in coronary artery atherosclerosis and histopathology defined the plaque composition. Conclusion:The study demonstrates the utility of MRI for in vivo measurement of % stenosis and distinguishes different components of coronary thrombus ex vivo suggesting the coronary artery plaque as a result of lipid disorder and oxidative stress.