Endothelial adhesion molecules such as vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) are attractive targets for diagnostic imaging since they are expressed on activated endothelial cells, the first hallmark of vascular dysfunction and inflammation, and their expression in atherosclerosis could facilitate early diagnosis. This evidence concerns the gene ICAM1 and atherosclerosis.