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Researchers have developed a molecule that can carry gadolinium into atherosclerotic plaques, permitting MRI visualization of these hard-to-image pathogenic structures. Researchers have developed a molecule that can carry gadolinium into atherosclerotic plaques, permitting MRI visualization of these hard-to-image pathogenic structures. Use of the contrast agent improved plaque detection by 79 per cent in a murine model.

The contrast agent is based on a synthesized peptide called 37pA, which is similar to a major protein found in high-density lipoproteins (HDL). This allows the peptide to enter atherosclerotic plaques in the same way that HDL does in order to pick up cholesterol for transport to the liver.

Prior attempts to visualize atherosclerotic plaques have been limited by the inability of contrast agents to penetrate the plaques, study co-author Dr. David Cormode, from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, told Reuters Health. "Our agent is adapted from HDL, which naturally goes to plaques."

Dr. Cormode presented his team's findings Tuesday at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Chicago.

"Use of the agent could allow doctors to determine if a patient's plaque burden had decreased" following lifestyle modifications and use of lipid-lowering therapy, Dr. Cormode noted.

While use of the contrast agent caused no apparent side effects, further studies are needed before it will be ready for clinical use, Dr. Cormode stated. "The next step will be to test the agent in larger animal models" of atherosclerotic disease, before testing it in humans, he added.