Title |
Identifying active vascular microcalcification by 18F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography
|
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Published in |
Nature Communications, July 2015
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DOI | 10.1038/ncomms8495 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Agnese Irkle, Alex T. Vesey, David Y. Lewis, Jeremy N. Skepper, Joseph L. E. Bird, Marc R. Dweck, Francis R. Joshi, Ferdia A. Gallagher, Elizabeth A. Warburton, Martin R. Bennett, Kevin M. Brindle, David E. Newby, James H. Rudd, Anthony P. Davenport |
Abstract |
Vascular calcification is a complex biological process that is a hallmark of atherosclerosis. While macrocalcification confers plaque stability, microcalcification is a key feature of high-risk atheroma and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Positron emission tomography and X-ray computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging of atherosclerosis using (18)F-sodium fluoride ((18)F-NaF) has the potential to identify pathologically high-risk nascent microcalcification. However, the precise molecular mechanism of (18)F-NaF vascular uptake is still unknown. Here we use electron microscopy, autoradiography, histology and preclinical and clinical PET/CT to analyse (18)F-NaF binding. We show that (18)F-NaF adsorbs to calcified deposits within plaque with high affinity and is selective and specific. (18)F-NaF PET/CT imaging can distinguish between areas of macro- and microcalcification. This is the only currently available clinical imaging platform that can non-invasively detect microcalcification in active unstable atherosclerosis. The use of (18)F-NaF may foster new approaches to developing treatments for vascular calcification. |
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Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 6 | 15% |
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Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
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Pakistan | 1 | <1% |
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Researcher | 34 | 16% |
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Unknown | 38 | 17% |
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