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Abstract #1273

Carotid Artery Wall Lipid Quantification by Means of 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: Correlation with Carotid Wall Area and Normalized Wall Index.

Raphael Duivenvoorden1, Adriaan G. Holleboom1, Eric de Groot1, Dirkjan F. Enklaar1, Johan S. Lamris2, John J.P. Kastelein1, Erik S.G. Stroes1, Aart J. Nederveen2

1Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, NH, Netherlands; 2Radiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, NH, Netherlands


We developed a carotid MRS protocol to non-invasively test the relation between the lipid to water ratio at the location of the carotid artery wall and carotid artery wall dimensions. We found that the lipid:water ratio correlated with the carotid artery wall dimensions, independent of serum lipid levels. Further research is needed to resolve whether MRS is a useful tool to assess the efficacy of lipid altering pharmacotherapy in the treatment of advanced atherosclerotic lesions.