Change in laser-induced arterial fluorescence during ablation of atherosclerotic plaque

Abstract

Analysis of the change in arterial fluorescence during plaque ablation may provide the basis for developing a fluorescence guided ablation system capable of selective plaque ablation without risk of vessel perforation. Accordingly, fluorescence spectra were recorded from 91 normal and 91 atherosclerotic specimens of cadaveric human aorta. The ratio of the laser‐induced fluorescence intensity at 382 nm to 430 nm (LIF ratio) was capable of classifying these specimens with an 89% accuracy with a threshold value of 1.8 (atherosclerotic ⩾1.8, normal P < .001), but considerable variation in LIF ratio existed at each thickness. Therefore, laser‐induced fluorescence spectroscopy is capable of discriminating atherosclerotic from normal aorta and of signaling completion of plaque ablation.