Computational imaging of aortic vasa vasorum and neovascularization in rabbits using contrast-enhanced intravascular ultrasound: Association with histological analysis

Manolis Vavuranakis, Theodore G. Papaioannou, Dimitrios Vrachatis, Michael Katsimboulas, Elias A. Sanidas, Sophia Vaina, George Agrogiannis, Efstratios Patsouris, Ioannis Kakadiaris, Christodoulos Stefanadis, Dimitrios Tousoulis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Neoangiogenesis is pathophysiologically related to atherosclerotic plaque growth and vulnerability. We examined the in vivo performance of a computational method using contrast-enhanced intravascular ultrasound (CE-IVUS) to detect and quantify aortic wall neovascularization in rabbits. We also compared these findings with histological data. Methods: Nine rabbits were fed with a hyperlipidemic diet. IVUS image sequences were continuously recorded before and after the injection of a contrast agent. Mean enhancement of intensity of a region of interest (MEIR) was calculated using differential imaging algorithm. The percent difference of MEIR before and after the injection of microbubbles (d_MEIR) was used as an index of the density of plaque or/and adventitial neovascularization. Aortic segments were excised for histological analysis. Results: CE-IVUS and histological analysis were performed in 11 arterial segments. MEIR was significantly increased (~20%) after microbubble injection (from 8.1±0.9 to 9.7±1.8, p=0.016). Segments with increased VV/neovessels in the tunica adventitia (histological scores 2 and 3) had significantly higher d_MEIR compared with segments with low presence of VV/neovessels (score 1); 40.5±22.9 vs. 8±14.6, p=0.024, respectively. Conclusion: It is possible to detect VV or neovessels in vivo using computational analysis of CE-IVUS images, which is in agreement with histological data. These findings may have critical implications on vulnerable plaque assessment and risk stratification.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)117-124
Number of pages8
JournalAnatolian Journal of Cardiology
Volume20
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2018

Keywords

  • Aorta
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Microbubbles
  • Neoangiogenesis
  • Vulnerable plaque

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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