Arterial wall shear stress is widely believed to influence the formation and growth of atherosclerotic plaque; however, there is currently no gold standard for its in vivo measurement. The use of phase contrast MRI has proved to be challenging due to partial-volume effects and inadequate signal-to-noise ratio at the high spatial resolutions that are required. This work evaluates the use of spir...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Arterial remodeling may enable atherosclerotic disease without luminal stenosis. We sought to assess the prevalence and characteristics of atherosclerosis in angiographically normal carotid arteries. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty-six arteries with 0% stenosis by MRA were evaluated with multicontrast carotid MR imaging at 3T. For each artery, the percentage wall volume (wa...

The dynamics of the carotid artery wall has been recognized as a valuable indicator to evaluate the status of atherosclerotic disease in the preclinical stage. However, it is still a challenge to accurately measure this dynamics from ultrasound images. This paper aims at developing an elasticity-based state-space approach for accurately measuring the two-dimensional motion of the carotid artery...

PURPOSE To assess the interstudy reproducibility of a three-dimensional volume-selective, fast spin echo (FSE) magnetic resonance technique for the assessment of carotid artery wall volume, which is a marker for total carotid plaque volume. MATERIALS AND METHODS Interstudy reproducibility was evaluated in 10 subjects with evidence of carotid artery atherosclerotic disease on carotid Doppler u...

The localization of atherosclerotic lesions is influenced by hemodynamic factors, namely, shear stress and tensive forces. The present study investigated the relationships between shear stress and circumferential wall tension and between these hemodynamic factors and the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery in healthy men. Fifty-eight subjects were studied. Shear stress was...

AIMS To assess the relationship between regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) and carotid atherosclerotic plaque burden and plaque characteristics. METHODS AND RESULTS Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the carotid artery was performed in 1901 participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Wall thickness and volume...

We have shown previously that TGA (transposition of great arteries) is associated with increased carotid artery stiffness. It has been established that stiffening of the barosensory vessel wall results in reduced baroreceptor activation and impaired BRS (baroreflex sensitivity). In the present study we tested the hypothesis that the increased carotid artery stiffness in TGA patients was associa...

BACKGROUND This study aimed to determine the relationship of statin therapy and cardiovascular risk factors to changes in atherosclerosis in the carotid artery. METHODS AND RESULTS Carotid magnetic resonance imaging was used to evaluate 106 hyperlipidemic participants at baseline and after 12 months of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor (statin) treatment. Multivariable...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Few cohort studies have examined the association of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque characteristics with the risk of stroke in apparently healthy persons. We examined the relationship of carotid IMT and the surface, morphology, and calcification of carotid plaques with the incidence of stroke among Japanese men. METHODS Carotid IMT and plaque were evalua...

OBJECTIVE Ethnicity-based research may identify new clues to the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic disease. Therefore, we sought to determine whether carotid lesions differ between 20 Chinese and 20 Caucasian Americans by MRI. METHODS AND RESULTS Inclusion criteria were >50% stenosis as measured by duplex ultrasound and recent symptoms attributed to carotid artery disease. The patients were ima...