Aug 27 (HeartCenterOnline) - Scientists are developing a noninvasive imaging technique that may someday pinpoint dangerous plaque deposits, enabling physicians to prevent a heart attack or stroke before they even begin.

By using a cell-culture model and magnetic resonance imaging, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School have found that they can detect elevated levels of an enzyme linked to plaque instability and heart risk. Studies on this imaging technique were presented at the 228th national meeting of the American Chemical Society.

The tool provides a noninvasive way of forecasting if unstable plaque is preparing to rupture. Plaque rupture is a dangerous condition in which a formation of plaque within an artery ruptures, releasing fatty particles and other poisons (toxins) into the bloodstream.

Depending on where the fatty particles become lodged, the condition can lead to possibly fatal events such as a heart attack or a stroke. In addition, the site of the rupture could seal over, causing a potentially larger blockage in the artery.

When plaque is about to rupture, an enzyme is released by the action of white blood cells. This enzyme appears to degrade a plaque's fibrous cap. If the cap withers away, the plaque is more likely to rupture.

If physicians can detect this enzyme in time, preventive action can target that artery, preventing an attack or at least minimizing damage. However, although the technique is promising, much more work needs to be done before the technique can be used in a clinical setting.

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