Objectives: We investigated the contributing factors for plaque enhancement and examined the relationships between regional contrast enhancement and the inflammatory activity of atherosclerotic plaques in an experimental rabbit model using contrast-enhanced high-resolution 3-dimensional (3D) black-blood magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in comparison with histopathologic analysis.

Background: Inflammation plays a critical role in plaque initiation, progression, and disruption. As such, inflammation represents an emerging target for the treatment of atherosclerosis. MRI findings suggest that contrast agent-induced signal enhancement is associated with the degree of macrophage infiltration and neovessels that can be detected in plaque.

Methods: Ten atherosclerotic rabbits and 3 normal control rabbits underwent high-resolution 3D contrast-enhanced black-blood MRI. Magnetic resonance images and the corresponding histopathologic sections were divided into 4 quadrants. Plaque composition was analyzed for each quadrant according to histopathologic criteria (percent of lipid-rich, fibrous, macrophage area and microvessel density) and imaging criteria (enhancement ratio [ER], ER = signal intensity(post)/signal intensity(pre)). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine independent factors for plaque enhancement.

Results: A total of 62 noncalcified plaques (n = 248; 156 lipid-rich quadrants and 92 fibrous quadrants) were identified based on histopathologic analysis. Mean ER values were significantly higher in atherosclerotic vessel walls than in normal vessel walls (2.03 ± 0.25 vs. 1.58 ± 0.15; p = 0.017). The mean ER values were significantly higher in lipid-rich quadrants compared with the fibrous quadrants (2.14 ± 0.31 vs. 1.84 ± 0.21; p = 0.001). Mean ER values were significantly higher in macrophage-rich plaques compared with the macrophage-poor plaques (2.21 ± 0.28 vs. 1.81 ± 0.22; p = 0.001). Using multiple regression analysis, macrophage area and microvessel density were associated independently with ER values that reflected plaque enhancement (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Contrast-enhanced high-resolution 3D black-blood MRI may be an efficient method to detect plaque inflammation.