Increasing Lipid Core Size in Carotid Plaque Is Predictive of Cardiovascular Events in Elder Asymptomatic Individuals Using Contrast-Enhanced High-Resolution MRI

Jianming Cai¹, Qingjun Wang¹, Lin Ma¹, Youquan Cai¹, Qian Zhao¹

By using contrast-enhanced high-resolution MRI, we studied prospectively whether increasing lipid core predicts future new cardiovascular events in elder asymptomatic individuals. Each subject in the present study was given consecutive pre and post contrast-enhanced MRI examinations every 6-9 months and followed up for new cardiovascular events. Our findings show that the increasing size of lipid core is significantly associated with the risk of the new vascular events. Being a noninvasive and accurate measure tool for lipid core, contrast-enhanced high-resolution MRI may be helpful to predict future cardiovascular events and improve the effectiveness of therapeutic strategies.