Methods for the detection of
inflammation associated with vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque to prevent heart
attack and
stroke are disclosed. The methods are also applicable to detection of infection,
cancer, wounds or auto-immune
disease in the body. Certain embodiments of the new methods provide a way of predicting the level of
vulnerability of an atherosclerotic plaque to rupture or
thrombus formation by assessing via
fiber optic NIR
spectrophotometry the status of two or more parameters associated with inflamed atherosclerotic plaque in a vessel of a living patient. From these measurements such conditions as low pH, hypoxia,
low glucose,
oxidative stress or compounds abundant in
vulnerable plaque such as
oxidized LDL cholesterol and oxidized metabolites of NO, significant active macrophage
population, thin plaque cap, as well as
senescence and / or
apoptosis of
smooth muscle or endothelial cells are determined with the assistance of a suitably programmed
microprocessor. By considering together the status of some or all of these conditions with respect to successive sites along a vessel wall, particular plaques which are at
significant risk of rupturing or thrombosing can be distinguished from “normal” vessel wall and from “intermediate” and relatively stable or “
lower risk” plaques. Sites having more of the indicator conditions would be considered most in need of prompt intervention, and certain combinations of parameter levels would be suggestive of relatively stable plaque.Also disclosed is a multi-parameter
catheter and analytical
processing assembly for use in the methods.