Abstract

ALEXANDERSON, Erick et al. Detection of inflammation in an atherosclerose plaque: the role of the positron emission tomography and C reactive protein. Arch. Cardiol. Méx. [online]. 2007, vol.77, n.4, pp.288-294. ISSN 1665-1731.

Objectives: To demonstrate that inflammatory atheromatose carotid plaques can be visualized with positron emission tomography with ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸FDG PET) in symptomatic patients, in order to correlate them with systemic inflammatory markers, such as CRP. Method: Fifteen patients with cerebral ischemia due to atherosclerotic carotid disease were studied. ¹⁸FDG uptake with PET was considered and blood samples were taken for determining high sensibility C reactive protein (HsCRP). Results: The mean age of the patients was 66 years; 11 of them were males (73%) and 4 were females (27%). ¹⁸FDG PET was positive in 12 patients (80%), while 100% of the studied population had low risk HsCRP with normal white cell count. Conclusions: ¹⁸FDG PET proves active inflammation in carotid atheromatose plaques. There was no significant correlation between the presence of ahteromatose carotid plaques, HsCRP serum levels, and ¹⁸FDG PET study.

Keywords : Positron emission tomography (PET); Atheromatose carotid plaque; High sensibility C reactive protein.