Application of infrared attenuated total reflection spectroscopy to in situ analysis of atheromatous plaques in aorta

Ex vivo infrared attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopic studies have been carried out to observe the accumulation of cholesterol ester in atheromatous plaques. It has been found that ATR spectra can be successfully obtained from the intima side of aorta and give the same information as the transmission spectra. This means, the ATR spectra include information about the chemical composition of atheromatous plaques together with the degree of eventual lesions. We have demonstrated that ATR microspectroscopic measurements can give images of atheromatous plaques distribution and enable in situ observation of the relative amount of accumulated cholesterol ester. The results clearly indicate that the ATR spectroscopy enables spectroscopic diagnoses in vivo as well as in vitro.