Beta carotene uptake into atherosclerotic plaque: enhanced staining and preferential ablation with the pulsed dye laser. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The yellow color of atherosclerotic plaque is due to the presence of carotenoids, which absorb light between 430-530 nm and account for the preferential ablation of plaque by the pulsed dye laser operating at 480 nm. This study was designed to examine tissue uptake of beta-carotene and the effect of uptake on arterial plaque ablation. Forty-two atherosclerotic NZW rabbits were given intravenous beta-carotene at a dose of 40 mg/kg, twice weekly and killed between 1 hour and 28 days after the initial injection. beta-carotene was not detected in control specimens but was significantly greater in plaque than in normal wall at all time points following beta-carotene injection (P < 0.04 Mann Whitney U test). The ablation threshold was significantly lower in beta-carotene treated plaque than in untreated plaque or normal arterial wall (P < 0.01, Fisher's exact test). In this model beta-carotene is preferentially taken up into arterial plaque, resulting in increased absorption of laser radiation at 480 nm and enhanced tissue ablation.

publication date

  • January 1, 1993

Research

keywords

  • Angioplasty, Laser
  • Aortic Diseases
  • Arteriosclerosis
  • Carotenoids

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0027477253

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1002/lsm.1900130202

PubMed ID

  • 7681923

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 13

issue

  • 2