MRI Detects Oxidative Stress Induced by Methaemoglobin

General Leung¹, Alan R. Moody¹

Carotid plaque haemorrhage detected by magnetic resonance imaging appears to be prognostic regarding plaque progression and patient outcome. It is accepted that oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) first causes then drives plaque development. We demonstrate in vitro that the signal hyperintensity caused by ferric haemoglobin, a major portion of intraplaque haemorrhage detected by MRI, is associated with an environment that is a potent oxidiser of LDL.