Abstract 10419: Identification of High-Risk Atherosclerotic Plaques in Patients With Moderate Carotid Artery Stenosis by Combined F-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography

Background: F-18 positron emission tomography (PET) may be used to identify low-grade carotid artery inflammation (Figure 1). Objective: We sought to investigate the association between cerebrovascular events and ipsilateral carotid artery inflammation in patients with moderate carotid artery stenosis. Methods: Fifteen patients with moderate carotid artery stenosis and recent (<2 weeks) ipsilateral stroke were enrolled and compared to 15 patients with moderate carotid artery stenosis in the absence of stroke symptoms. Internal and common carotid artery local inflammation (ipsilateral and contralateral to event) was assessed with F-18 PET using standard maximal uptake values (SUV) and maximal and mean target-to-background ratios (TBR). Carotid calcium scoring was performed using computed tomography (CT). Systemic inflammatory state was assessed with measurements of the plasminogen activator inhibitor antigen, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and interleukin 6. Results: Baseline characteri...