Vascular I-131-low-density lipoprotein imaging in patients with hypertension and early atherosclerotic lesions in the carotid artery

Background: The reinjection of autologous I-131-labeled low-density lipopro tein (LDL) followed by vascular scintigraphy has been used to investigate l ipid-containing plaques, but no information is available on the early stage s of plaques in hypertensives. Vascular scintigraphy after re-injection of autologous I-131-labelled LDL was used to investigate early atherosclerotic lesions visualized by sonography in the carotid arteries of patients with hypertension Patients and methods: 10 male patients (4 smokers; mean age 56 +/- 8 years; ) with early carotid atherosclerosis (mono- or bilateral, intima-media-thic kness ranging from 1.5 to 3.5mm) as shown by sonography were studied AIL th ese normolipemic patients suffered from primary hypertension and were treat ed with diuretics. As controls 6 healthy male subjects (3 smokers; mean age 54 +/- 9 years;), with normal blood pressure and lipid pattern were recrui ted. Results: Hot spots appeal ed in the areas with early atherosclerosis in 7 p atients, while none were seen in controls. Positive kinetic curves were obs erved in 4 patients. No significant differences emerged in the target/non-t arget ratios, Conclusions: Vascular lipoprotein uptake in hypertensive patients is appare ntly late and rather limited; the uptake pattern may depend on plaque compo sition.