Thermal heterogeneity within XXXX @entity731 coronary arteries detected in vivo: A new method of detection by application of a special thermography catheter.

@entity1 @entity583 @entity63 @entity5749 @entity1459 @entity397 @entity731 @entity715
BACKGROUND: Activated macrophages play an important role in the pathogenesis of @entity63 . It has been postulated that detection of heat released by activated inflammatory cells of @entity731 may predict @entity397 and @entity715 . Previous ex vivo studies have shown that there is thermal heterogeneity in @entity1 carotid @entity731 . METHODS AND RESULTS: To measure the temperature of @entity1 arteries in vivo, we developed a catheter-based technique. Ninety @entity1 (45 with normal coronary arteries, 15 with @entity5749 [ @entity5749 ], 15 with @entity1459 [ @entity1459 ], and 15 with @entity583 [ @entity583 ]) were studied. The thermistor of the thermography catheter has a temperature accuracy of 0.05 degrees C, a time constant of 300 ms, and a spatial resolution of 0.5 mm. Temperature was constant within the arteries of the control subjects, whereas most @entity731 showed higher temperature compared with healthy vessel wall. Temperature differences between @entity731 and healthy vessel wall increased progressively from @entity5749 to @entity583 @entity1 (difference of plaque temperature from background temperature, 0. 106+/-0.110 degrees C in @entity5749 , 0.683+/-0.347 degrees C in @entity1459 , and 1. 472+/-0.691 degrees C in @entity583 ). Heterogeneity within the plaque was shown in 20%, 40%, and 67% of the @entity1 with @entity5749 , @entity1459 , and @entity583 , respectively, whereas no heterogeneity was shown in the control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Thermal heterogeneity within @entity1 @entity731 coronary arteries was shown in vivo by use of a special thermography catheter. This heterogeneity is larger in @entity1459 and @entity583 , suggesting that it may be related to the pathogenesis.
