Molecular Imaging of Angiogenesis in Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Recent advances in molecular imaging provide invaluable tools for evaluating angiogenesis in CVD. It has been widely regarded that angiogenic therapy is an attractive approach for treating ischemic heart disease; conversely, a variety of studies suggest that neovascularization contributes to the growth of atherosclerotic lesions and is a key factor in plaque destabilization leading to rupture. Moreover, angiogenesis is not only critical for atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases, but also for assessing the consequences of therapeutic intervention. The developments of potential biological targets for imaging angiogenesis and imaging tools have expanded our eyesight to encompass many important components of the processes of angiogenesis, either in physiological activities or pathological progressions. This review will focus on recent advances on noninvasive approaches for direct evaluation of the molecular events associated with angiogenesis in CVD, as well for prediction responses and tracking therapeutic efficacy of angiogenic therapy.