talaporfin and Coronary-Artery-Disease

Although several methods for atherosclerosis detection are available, none of them seems to be accurate enough to identify the vulnerable atheromatous plaque. Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) and therapy (PDT) - a new method evaluated for neoplasm treatment, is a modern approach for detecting and treating atherosclerosis.. To asses in vitro the capability of PDD with the use of chlorin e6 to detect atherosclerotic plaque and the usefulness of this method as a feedback system for photoangioplasty treatment.. 30 specimens of human aorta and 15 specimens of human coronary arteries were examined. The samples were soaked with chlorin e6 and then washed out. The luminescence spectra were then collected. All samples were examined with light microscopy.. Tissue fluorescence is seen as green light. We noted a very strong red fluorescence of chlorin e6 originating from lipid-rich plaque. We established a quantitative factor (R) which is the ratio of chlorin e6 red intensity in its 660 nm maximum to the area of green luminescence centred at 515 nm. The highest value of R was reached at the atheromatous samples, followed by calcified and normal ones R(2)=3.51+/-0.62, R(3)=1.63+/-0.31, and R(1)=1.51+/-0.15, respectively. A statistically significant difference was noted between groups two and one, and between groups two and three (R(2)=3.51+/-0.62 vs. R(3)=1.63+/-0.31, p<0.05; and R(2)=3.51+/-0.62 vs. R(1)=1.51+/-0.15, p<0.05, respectively).. This in vitro study confirms that photosensitiser chlorin e6 accumulates within atheromatous plaque. It may be a specific tool for atheromatous and normal or calcified segments discrimination. The advantage of the above method is the possibility of a real-time imaging followed by targeted therapy of various forms and stages of atherosclerosis.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cell Wall; Coronary Artery Disease; Female; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Middle Aged; Porphyrins; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; Spectrometry, Fluorescence

To visualize specifically at the beating heart surface atherosclerosis in small coronary arteries using the photosensitiser, mono-L-aspartyl chlorin e6 (NPe6).. Cholesterol-fed atherosclerotic rabbits were injected intravenously with 2.0 mg/kg of NPe6. Atherosclerosis was visualized by allowing NPe6 to accumulate in atheromatous plaques, and then used as a potent fluoroprobe to illuminate atherosclerotic coronary arteries upon excitation by light. An epifluorescence stereoscope system was used to visualize atherosclerosis in small coronary arteries.. Although it was unable to specify the parts of the coronary arteries which had atherosclerotic changes under room light with the naked eye, several brightly illuminated branching small coronary arteries were observed clearly against the dark heart surface through the epifluorescence stereoscope, as an exciting mercury blue light beam was used to irradiate the beating heart. A fluorescence micrograph of the coronary artery, at which orange-red fluorescence was seen through the epifluorescence stereoscope, showed that the atheromatous plaques emitted orange-red fluorescence.. The presence and extent of small coronary atherosclerosis were demonstrated in the beating heart. Such information may help assess the clinical significance of atherosclerosis in small coronary arteries.

Topics: Animals; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Vessels; Female; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Porphyrins; Rabbits