(Circulation. 1997;96:99-105.)
© 1997 American Heart Association, Inc.
Articles |
Determination of Human Coronary Artery Composition by Raman Spectroscopy
From the George R. Harrison Spectroscopy Laboratory (J.F.B., M.S.F.), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass; Department of Cardiology (T.J.R.), Leiden University Hospital, Leiden, the Netherlands; Boston Heart Foundation and Division of Health Sciences and Technology (R.S.L.), Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass; Department of Biophysics (A.M.T.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass; and Department of Cardiology (J.R.K.), The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio.
Correspondence to Michael S. Feld, George R. Harrison Spectroscopy Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bldg 6-014, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139. E-mail msfeld{at}mit.edu
Background We present a method for in situ chemical
analysis of human coronary artery using near-infrared
Raman spectroscopy. It is rapid and accurate and does not require
tissue removal; small volumes, 
1 mm3, can be
sampled. This methodology is likely to be useful as a tool for
intravascular diagnosis of artery disease.
Methods and Results Human coronary artery segments were obtained from nine explanted recipient hearts within 1 hour of heart transplantation. Minces from one or more segments were obtained through grinding in a mortar and pestle containing liquid nitrogen. Artery segments and minces were excited with 830 nm near-infrared light, and Raman spectra were collected with a specially designed spectrometer. A model was developed to analyze the spectra and quantify the amounts of cholesterol, cholesterol esters, triglycerides and phospholipids, and calcium salts present. The model provided excellent fits to spectra from the artery segments, indicating its applicability to intact tissue. In addition, the minces were assayed chemically for lipid and calcium salt content, and the results were compared. The relative weights obtained using the Raman technique agreed with those of the standard assays within a few percentage points.
Conclusions The chemical composition of coronary artery can be quantified accurately with Raman spectroscopy. This opens the possibility of using histochemical analysis to predict acute events such as plaque rupture, to follow the progression of disease, and to select appropriate therapeutic interventions.
Key Words: atherosclerosis • diagnosis • spectroscopy, Raman
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  J. E. Muller and S. R. Dixon Googling the coronary: fiberoptics and a computer provide the answers. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. Img., November 1, 2008; 1(6): 762 - 764. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Waxman, F. Ishibashi, and J. E. Muller Detection and Treatment of Vulnerable Plaques and Vulnerable Patients: Novel Approaches to Prevention of Coronary Events Circulation, November 28, 2006; 114(22): 2390 - 2411. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S W E van de Poll, K Kastelijn, T C B. Schut, C Strijder, G Pasterkamp, G J Puppels, and A van der Laarse On-line detection of cholesterol and calcification by catheter based Raman spectroscopy in human atherosclerotic plaque ex vivo Heart, September 1, 2003; 89(9): 1078 - 1082. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. D. MacNeill, H. C. Lowe, M. Takano, V. Fuster, and I.-K. Jang Intravascular Modalities for Detection of Vulnerable Plaque: Current Status Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, August 1, 2003; 23(8): 1333 - 1342. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D.S. Celermajer Understanding the pathophysiology of the arterial wall: which method should we choose? Eur. Heart J. Suppl., September 1, 2002; 4(suppl_F): F24 - F28. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Di Mario Vulnerable plaques: let's stop sinking on submerged icebergs? Eur. Heart J., March 1, 2002; 23(5): 349 - 351. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C.L. de Korte, S.G. Carlier, F. Mastik, M.M. Doyley, A.F.W. van der Steen, P.W. Serruys, and N. Bom Morphological and mechanical information of coronary arteries obtained with intravascular elastography. Feasibility study in vivo Eur. Heart J., March 1, 2002; 23(5): 405 - 413. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. W.E. van de Poll, T. J. Romer, O. L. Volger, D. J.M. Delsing, T. C. Bakker Schut, H. M.G. Princen, L. M. Havekes, J. W. Jukema, A. van der Laarse, and G. J. Puppels Raman Spectroscopic Evaluation of the Effects of Diet and Lipid-Lowering Therapy on Atherosclerotic Plaque Development in Mice Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, October 1, 2001; 21(10): 1630 - 1635. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Peng, W. Guo, J. D. Morrisett, M. T. Johnstone, and J. A. Hamilton Quantification of Cholesteryl Esters in Human and Rabbit Atherosclerotic Plaques by Magic-Angle Spinning 13C-NMR Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, December 1, 2000; 20(12): 2682 - 2688. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. Pasterkamp, E. Falk, H. Woutman, and C. Borst Techniques characterizing the coronary atherosclerotic plaque: influence on clinical decision making? J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., July 1, 2000; 36(1): 13 - 21. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. Guo, J. D. Morrisett, M. E. DeBakey, G. M. Lawrie, and J. A. Hamilton Quantification In Situ of Crystalline Cholesterol and Calcium Phosphate Hydroxyapatite in Human Atherosclerotic Plaques by Solid-State Magic Angle Spinning NMR Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, June 1, 2000; 20(6): 1630 - 1636. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. J. Romer, J. F. Brennan III, G. J. Puppels, A. H. Zwinderman, S. G. van Duinen, A. van der Laarse, A. F. W. van der Steen, N. A. Bom, and A. V. G. Bruschke Intravascular Ultrasound Combined With Raman Spectroscopy to Localize and Quantify Cholesterol and Calcium Salts in Atherosclerotic Coronary Arteries Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, February 1, 2000; 20(2): 478 - 483. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Yamagishi, M. Terashima, K. Awano, M. Kijima, S. Nakatani, S. Daikoku, K. Ito, Y. Yasumura, and K. Miyatake Morphology of vulnerable coronary plaque: insights from follow-up of patients examined by intravascular ultrasound before an acute coronary syndrome J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., January 1, 2000; 35(1): 106 - 111. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. J. Romer, J. F. Brennan III, M. Fitzmaurice, M. L. Feldstein, G. Deinum, J. L. Myles, J. R. Kramer, R. S. Lees, and M. S. Feld Histopathology of Human Coronary Atherosclerosis by Quantifying Its Chemical Composition With Raman Spectroscopy Circulation, March 10, 1998; 97(9): 878 - 885. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. W. Villard, M. D. Feldman, J. Kim, T. E. Milner, and G. L. Freeman Use of a Blood Substitute to Determine Instantaneous Murine Right Ventricular Thickening With Optical Coherence Tomography Circulation, April 16, 2002; 105(15): 1843 - 1849. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|