Quantitative 3T MR Imaging of the Descending Thoracic Aorta: Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia Have an Increased Aortic Plaque Burden Despite Long-Term Lipid-lowering Therapy

The results of this preliminary study show that patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia have a higher aortic atherosclerotic plaque burden than control subjects at quantitative MR imaging despite long-term lipid-lowering therapy. This information may help design future studies evaluating plaque burden and cardiovascular risk.