PET/CT无创检测动脉粥样硬化斑块的实验研究

Experimental study on PET/CT non-invasive detection of atherosclerotic plaques

目的:探讨PET/CT用于体外无创检测动脉粥样硬化斑块稳定性的方法学、可行性及机制。方法:9只雄性新西兰白兔,随机分为3组,动脉粥样硬化组(n=3):进行动脉粥样硬化诱导后5个月时进行主动脉的PET/CT成像,并获得主动脉的18F-脱氧葡萄糖(18F-FDG)摄取;动脉粥样硬化+阿托伐他汀组(n=3):进行动脉粥样硬化诱导后5个月时进行主动脉的PET/CT成像,然后改为普通饲料并加用阿托伐他汀(2.5 mg.d-1.kg-1)喂养4个月后,再次进行PET/CT成像,并获得主动脉的18F-FDG摄取;正常对照组(n=3),给予正常普通饲料,在5月后行主动脉的PET/CT成像。结果:PET/CT结果显示,动脉粥样硬化组,动脉粥样硬化+阿托伐他汀组用药前可见主动脉显影,有强烈的放射性信号;在阿托伐他汀应用4个月后可见放射性活性的显著减低;在对照组中没有见到放射性信号的显影。结论:用18F-FDG为显像剂,通过PET/CT无创检测动脉粥样硬化不稳定斑块是可行的。PET/CT有可能成为一种给动脉粥样硬化患者进行危险分层和监测靶血管炎症治疗效果的方法。

Objective： To test the feasibility that vascular inflammation can be measured noninvasively by use of PET/CT with 18F-FDG.Methods： Nine male New Zealand White rabbits were divided into three groups as follows,atherosclerosis group（n=3）： 5 months after induction of atherosclerosis,PET/CT images were made and obtaining data of pathology and 18F-FDG uptake;atherosclerosis with atorvastatin group（n=3）： after 5 months induction of atherosclerosis,and PET/CT images were made,then this group was given atorvastatin（2.5 mg·d-1·kg-1） with normal diet for 4 months,PET/CT images were made again,and obtained data of pathology and 18F-FDG uptake;normal control group（n=3）： the animals were fed a standard diet at 120 g/day and were given water ad libitum,PET/CT images for aortas were made after 5 months old.Results： PET/CT showed that the aortas were imaged in the atherosclerosis group,intense radioactivity was observed in this group and in atherosclerosis with atorvastatin group before treatment of atorvastatin.In the atherosclerosis with atorvastatin group,rare radioactivity was observed after treatment of atorvastatin.A notable reduction of radioactivity was observed after atorvastatin was fed to atherosclerotic rabbits for 4 months.There was no radiative signal observed in the control group.Conclusion： This study demonstrated that noninvasive 18F-FDG PET/CT complex imaging holds promise for the detection of metabolically active atherosclerotic plaques and may represent a method to treat risk-stratify patients with atherosclerotic diseases and to monitor therapies of that target vascular inflammation.