Time-resolved fluorescence of human aortic wall: Use for improved identification of atherosclerotic lesions

• Published in: Lasers in surgery and medicine 2000, Vol.27 (3), p.241-254
• Main Authors: Maarek, Jean-Michel I., Marcu, Laura, Fishbein, Michael C., Grundfest, Warren S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aorta - pathology; Arteriosclerosis - diagnosis; Arteriosclerosis - pathology; atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cadaver; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular system; Child; decay-associated spectra; Endothelium, Vascular - pathology; fluorescence spectroscopy; global analysis; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Lasers; lifetime; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; nitrogen laser; optical biopsy; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Severity of Illness Index; Spectrometry, Fluorescence - methods; Time Factors; time-dependent fluorescence decay
• ISSN: 0196-8092; 1096-9101
• DOI: 10.1002/1096-9101(2000)27:3<241::AID-LSM6>3.0.CO;2-0

Background and Objective This study characterized aortic time‐resolved fluorescence spectra for stratified levels of atherosclerosis and proposed interpretation of spectrotemporal variations in terms of histologic changes. Study Design/Materials and Methods Fluorescence emission transients were measured at 370–510 nm (337 nm excitation) on 94 excised human aortic samples, ranging from normal to advanced fibrous atherosclerotic lesion. Global analysis yielded a three‐exponential approximation of the time‐resolved spectra from which average lifetime and decay‐associated spectra were derived. Results Average lifetime at 390 nm gradually increased from 2.4 ± 0.1 nsec (normal aorta) to 3.9 ± 0.1 nsec (advanced lesion). Fluorescence intensity was markedly decreased above 430 nm in intermediate and advanced lesions. Spectral intensity associated with the intermediate decay increased at 470–490 nm for early and intermediate lipid‐rich lesions. Conclusion Time‐resolved fluorescence spectra of aortic samples presented distinctive features for each atherosclerotic lesion type, which could serve as characteristic markers for optical analysis of the aortic wall. Lasers Surg. Med. 27:241–254, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.