In a recent collaboration by UCD and Cambridge University, researchers have published a review describing the emergence of new state-of-the-art PET scanning techniques to identify patients at high risk of stroke. Over the last 20 years, significant advances have been made in developing and improving the technique, which can detect inflammation in the arteries of these patients. These inflammation signals can only be reliably seen using PET scanners. Until now, doctors have relied upon CT or ultrasound scans in patients with strokes to detect those at greatest risk of further stroke. The carotid artery is a neck vessel and the principal source of blood supply to the brain. The carotid artery can become narrowed with plaque, which is a build-up of "sludge" that can narrow the artery. This process is called atherosclerosis and is also the cause of heart attacks.
Dr John McCabe is a consultant geriatrician and stroke physician in the Mater Hospital, Dublin and a UCD researcher who led the project. Commenting on the recent scientific work, he said: "Over 1 million people have a stroke in Europe every year and atherosclerosis is a leading cause. We now know that inflammation of the arteries is an important driver of this terrible disease. Developing new techniques to detect inflammation in the arteries is important for two reasons. First, it could be used to identify high-risk patients who might benefit from more aggressive therapies, such as surgical removal of plaque, a procedure known as a carotid endarterectomy. Second. PET scans give researchers a valuable tool for studying atherosclerosis. It might be a gateway to developing new treatments to dampen down inflammation in arteries after stroke."
Congratulations to all involved.