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Selective absorption of ultraviolet laser energy by human atherosclerotic plaque treated with tetracycline

Journal Article · · Am. J. Cardiol.; (United States)
Tetracycline is an antibiotic that absorbs ultraviolet light at 355 nm and preferentially binds to atherosclerotic plaque both in vitro and in vivo. Tetracycline-treated human cadaveric aorta was compared with untreated aorta using several techniques: absorptive spectrophotometry; and tissue uptake of radiolabeled tetracycline, which showed 4-fold greater uptake by atheroma than by normal vessel. In addition, intravenous tetracycline administered to patients undergoing vascular surgery demonstrated characteristic fluorescence in surgically excised diseased arteries. Because of tetracycline's unique properties, the authors exposed tetracycline-treated and untreated aorta to ultraviolet laser radiation at a wavelength of 355 nm. They found enhanced ablation of tetracycline-treated atheroma compared with untreated atheroma. The plaque ablation caused by ultraviolet laser radiation was twice as extensive in tetracycline-treated vs nontreated plaque. This study demonstrates the potential of tetracycline plaque enhancement for the selective destruction of atheroma by ultraviolet laser radiation.
Research Organization:
Stanford Univ. Medical Center, CA
OSTI ID:
5175276
Journal Information:
Am. J. Cardiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Cardiol.; (United States) Vol. 11; ISSN AJCDA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English