Vulnerable plaque imaging: Updates on new pathobiological mechanisms

Konstantinos Toutouzas, Georgios Benetos, Antonios Karanasos, Yiannis S. Chatzizisis, Andreas A. Giannopoulos, Dimitris Tousoulis

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

84 Scopus citations

Abstract

Early identification of vulnerable, rupture-prone atherosclerotic plaques with the optimal goal of cardiovascular event prevention is a field of vigorous research. Despite the advances in imaging modalities and the in vivo identification of many characteristics of vulnerability, few of these plaques actually rupture and even fewer lead to clinical events, questioning the predictive value of the above techniques in clinical practice. Factors causing the higher local vulnerability of the culprit plaque within a prothrombotic environment of widespread inflammation are generally unknown. Newly recognized local features, including microcalcifications and biomechanical factors, seem to contribute. In this review article, we target on new mechanisms, implicated in vulnerable plaque formation and rupture, analysing their potential clinical value.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3147-3154
Number of pages8
JournalEuropean Heart Journal
Volume36
Issue number45
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2015

Keywords

  • Endothelial shear stress
  • Inflammation
  • MiRNAs
  • Microcalcifications
  • Vulnerable plaque

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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