Abstract

The rupture of the fibrous cap is the critical event leading to thromboembolic complications on the luminal surface of advanced atherosclerotic plaques. The factors that set the stage for plaque disruption include progressive cap atrophy with loss of cells and matrix. Unfortunately, these beliefs are hard to test because of a lack of animal models. We propose to solve this problem by an interdisciplinary approach combining human tissue and animal model studies of molecular pathways that could underlie this process. In this project, we will study, using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging, a cohort of patients with moderate internal carotid artery stenosis. We will test the hypothesis that the fibrous caps of these lesions generally are thick and that thinning of the cap develops after the plaque enlarges and the lumen narrows. We will also determine whether ischemic neurological events or plaque rupture assessed by histological evaluation of excised plaques correlates with fibrous cap thinning.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01HL061851-01
Application #
2752405
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-B (S1))
Project Start
1998-09-30
Project End
2002-09-29
Budget Start
1998-09-30
Budget End
1999-09-29
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of Washington
Department
Surgery
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
135646524
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195

  Publications

Xu, Dongxiang; Hippe, Daniel S; Underhill, Hunter R et al. (2014) Prediction of high-risk plaque development and plaque progression with the carotid atherosclerosis score. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 7:366-73
Canton, Gador; Chiu, Bernard; Chen, Huijun et al. (2013) A framework for the co-registration of hemodynamic forces and atherosclerotic plaque components. Physiol Meas 34:977-90
Sun, Jie; Underhill, Hunter R; Hippe, Daniel S et al. (2012) Sustained acceleration in carotid atherosclerotic plaque progression with intraplaque hemorrhage: a long-term time course study. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 5:798-804
Balu, Niranjan; Yarnykh, Vasily L; Chu, Baocheng et al. (2011) Carotid plaque assessment using fast 3D isotropic resolution black-blood MRI. Magn Reson Med 65:627-37
Hatsukami, Thomas S; Yuan, Chun (2010) MRI in the early identification and classification of high-risk atherosclerotic carotid plaques. Imaging Med 2:63-75
Underhill, H R; Hatsukami, T S; Cai, J et al. (2010) A noninvasive imaging approach to assess plaque severity: the carotid atherosclerosis score. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 31:1068-75
Balu, Niranjan; Chu, Baocheng; Hatsukami, Thomas S et al. (2008) Comparison between 2D and 3D high-resolution black-blood techniques for carotid artery wall imaging in clinically significant atherosclerosis. J Magn Reson Imaging 27:918-24
Saam, Tobias; Underhill, Hunter R; Chu, Baocheng et al. (2008) Prevalence of American Heart Association type VI carotid atherosclerotic lesions identified by magnetic resonance imaging for different levels of stenosis as measured by duplex ultrasound. J Am Coll Cardiol 51:1014-21
Underhill, Hunter R; Yarnykh, Vasily L; Hatsukami, Thomas S et al. (2008) Carotid plaque morphology and composition: initial comparison between 1.5- and 3.0-T magnetic field strengths. Radiology 248:550-60
Saam, Tobias; Yuan, Chun; Chu, Baocheng et al. (2007) Predictors of carotid atherosclerotic plaque progression as measured by noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging. Atherosclerosis 194:e34-42

Showing the most recent 10 out of 19 publications