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Beta carotene uptake into atherosclerotic plaque: Enhanced staining and preferential ablation with the pulsed dye laser
Author(s) -
Mitchell David C.,
Prince Martin R.,
Frisoli Joan K.,
Smith Roy E.,
Wood Richard F. M.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.1900130202
Subject(s) - ablation , staining , chemistry , carotene , laser ablation , absorption (acoustics) , pathology , laser , medicine , materials science , optics , physics , organic chemistry , composite material
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 β‐carotene and the effect of uptake on arterial plaque ablation. Forty‐two atherosclerotic NZW rabbits were given intravenous β‐carotene at a dose of 40 mg/kg, twice weekly and killed between 1 hour and 28 days after the initial injection. β‐carotene was not detected in control specimens but was significantly greater in plaque than in normal wall at all time points following β‐carotene injection ( P < 0.04 Mann Whitney U test). The ablation threshold was significantly lower in β‐carotene treated plaque than in untreated plaque or normal arterial wall ( P < 0.01, Fisher's exact test). In this model β‐carotene is preferentially taken up into arterial plaque, resulting in increased absorption of laser radiation at 480 nm and enhanced tissue ablation. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.