External imaging of human atherosclerosis.

Autologous plasma low-density lipoproteins labeled with I-125 were used as a tracer to identify atherosclerotic lesions in the carotid arteries of the neck. Following intravenous injection of I-125-LDL, images were made at intervals from 6 to 36 hr with the gamma camera in three patients with known carotid disease and one control subject. The carotid lesions, confirmed by angiography, were imaged successfully in all three patients, whereas no focal LDL accumulation was visible in the carotid arteries of the control subject. The findings suggest that it may be possible to image atherosclerosis externally and thus to follow the course of the disease.