Classification of Vulnerable Plaques in Human Coronary Arteries Using High Resolution Micro-CT Imaging

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adreanne Kelly ◽  
Natalia Maldonado ◽  
Yuliya Vengrenyuk ◽  
John T. Fallon ◽  
Renu Virmani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Coronary Syndrome ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Coronary Arteries ◽  
Plaque Rupture ◽  
Ct Imaging ◽  
Micro Ct ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Vulnerable Plaques ◽  
Risk Of Rupture

Sixty percent of the more than 500,000 cases of acute coronary syndrome that lead to death are due to plaque rupture. Understanding the mechanisms of rupture is important to predicting the risk of rupture. Determining these mechanisms begins with acquiring an accurate visualization of the arteries containing fiberoatherotic lesions or fibroatheroma.

scholarly journals Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging in Acute Coronary Syndromes

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Kubo ◽  
Yasushi Ino ◽  
Takashi Tanimoto ◽  
Hironori Kitabata ◽  
Atsushi Tanaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Coherence Tomography ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Acute Coronary Syndromes ◽  
Plaque Rupture ◽  
Vasa Vasorum ◽  
Optical Coherence ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Vulnerable Plaques ◽  
Coronary Syndromes

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a high-resolution imaging technique that offers microscopic visualization of coronary plaques. The clear and detailed images of OCT generate an intense interest in adopting this technique for both clinical and research purposes. Recent studies have shown that OCT is useful for the assessment of coronary atherosclerotic plaques, in particular the assessment of plaque rupture, erosion, and intracoronary thrombus in patients with acute coronary syndrome. In addition, OCT may enable identifying thin-cap fibroatheroma, the proliferation of vasa vasorum, and the distribution of macrophages surrounding vulnerable plaques. With its ability to view atherosclerotic lesions in vivo with such high resolution, OCT provides cardiologists with the tool they need to better understand the thrombosis-prone vulnerable plaques and acute coronary syndromes. This paper reviews the possibility of OCT for identification of vulnerable plaques in vivo.

scholarly journals Plaque Erosion: A Distinctive Pathological Mechanism of Acute Coronary Syndrome

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing Luo ◽  
Ying Lv ◽  
Xiaoxuan Bai ◽  
Jinyu Qi ◽  
Xiuzhu Weng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Plaque Rupture ◽  
Accurate Diagnosis ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Pathological Characteristics ◽  
Vulnerable Plaques ◽  
Plaque Erosion ◽  
Pathological Mechanism ◽  
Clinical Strategies

Plaque erosion (PE) is one of the most important pathological mechanisms underlying acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The incidence of PE is being increasingly recognized owing to the development and popularization of intracavitary imaging. Unlike traditional vulnerable plaques, eroded plaques have unique pathological characteristics. Moreover, recent studies have revealed that there are differences in the physiopathological mechanisms, biomarkers, and clinical outcomes between PE and plaque rupture (PR). Accurate diagnosis and treatment of eroded plaques require an understanding of the pathogenesis of PE. In this review, we summarize recent scientific discoveries of the pathological characteristics, mechanisms, biomarkers, clinical strategies, and prognosis in patients with PE.

scholarly journals VULNERABLE ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUES OF CORONARY ARTERIES IN PATIENTS WITH STABLE CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 65-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. A. Kochergin ◽  
A. M. Kochergina ◽  
V. I. Ganjukov ◽  
O. L. Barbarash
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Artery Disease ◽  
Acute Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Coronary Arteries ◽  
Stable Coronary Artery Disease ◽  
Lumen Area ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Vulnerable Plaques ◽  
Luminal Stenosis ◽  
Artery Disease

Background. Acute coronary syndrome remains the leading cause of death worldwide. The rupture of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary artery is a common pathogenetic mechanism contributing to the onset of acute coronary syndrome. Therefore, one of the main goals of the practical cardiology is to ensure the development of sensitive early diagnostic methods and set preventive and treatment strategies for acute coronary event. Aim To evaluate the incidence of vulnerable plaques in the non-target coronary arteries in patients with stable coronary artery disease.Methods. 58 patients with stable coronary artery disease were included in a prospective observational cohort study. After the target vessel had been stented, virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) of the proximal and middle segments (6–8 cm) of one non-target artery (i.e. without any significant stenotic lesions on coronary angiography) was performed.Results. The mean age of patients was 60.4±6.6 years. In addition to the targeted hemodynamically significant lesions subjected to stenting, 56 patients had 58 lesions (96.5%) in the non-target coronary arteries. Of them, 5 lesions (8.6%) were with >70% luminal stenosis (including >70% luminal stenosis + lumen area <4 mm2 in 4 cases), 10 lesions (17.2%) – with minimum lumine area <4 mm2 and without any other signs of vulnerable plaque, 12 lesions (20.7%) – with a large necrotic core and a thin cap (including thin-cap fibroatheroma + >70% luminal stenosis in 2 patients; thin-cap fibroatheroma + lumen area <4 mm2 – 2 cases, thin-cap fibroatheroma + >70% luminal stenosis + lumen area <4 mm2 – 2 cases).Conclusion. In vivo evaluation of the plaques in the non-target vessels ensures the detection of vulnerable plaques in stable patients. The long-term follow-up of the study group allows assessing the risk of developing adverse cardiovascular events in those patients who have vulnerable coronary plaques.

scholarly journals Diagnostic Performance of High-Resolution Intravascular Ultrasound for the Detection of Plaque Rupture in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome

2019 ◽  
Vol 83 (12) ◽  
pp. 2505-2511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hirofumi Ohashi ◽  
Hirohiko Ando ◽  
Hiroaki Takashima ◽  
Katsuhisa Waseda ◽  
Masahiro Shimoda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Coronary Syndrome ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Intravascular Ultrasound ◽  
Diagnostic Performance ◽  
Plaque Rupture ◽  
Coronary Syndrome

Macrophage infiltrates in coronary plaque erosion portend a worse cardiovascular outcome in patients with acute coronary syndrome

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
R.A Montone ◽  
V Vetrugno ◽  
M Camilli ◽  
M Russo ◽  
M.G Del Buono ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Vulnerable Plaque ◽  
Cardiac Death ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Plaque Rupture ◽  
Culprit Lesion ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Fibrous Cap ◽  
Plaque Erosion

Abstract Background Plaque erosion (PE) is responsible for at least one-third of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Inflammatory activation is considered a key mechanism of plaque instability in patients with plaque rupture through the release of metalloproteinases and the inhibition of collagen synthesis that in turns lead to fibrous cap degradation. However, the clinical relevance of macrophage infiltration has never been investigated in patients with PE. Purpose In our study, we aimed at assessing the presence of optical coherence tomography (OCT)-defined macrophage infiltrates (MØI) at the culprit site in ACS patients with PE, evaluating their clinical and OCT correlates, along with their prognostic value. Methods ACS patients undergoing OCT imaging and presenting PE as culprit lesion were retrospectively selected. Presence of MØI at culprit site and in non-culprit segments along the culprit vessel was assessed. The incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), defined as the composite of cardiac death, recurrent myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization (TVR), was assessed [follow-up median (interquartile range, IQR) time 2.5 (2.03–2.58) years]. Results We included 153 patients [median age (IQR) 64 (53–75) years, 99 (64.7%) males]. Fifty-one (33.3%) patients presented PE with MØI and 102 (66.7%) PE without MØI. Patients having PE with MØI compared with PE patients without MØI had more vulnerable plaque features both at culprit site and at non-culprit segments. In particular, culprit lesion analysis demonstrated that patients with PE with MØI had a significantly thinner fibrous cap [median (IQR) 100 (60–120) μm vs. 160 (95–190) μm, p&lt;0.001], higher prevalence of thrombus [41 (80.4%) vs. 64 (62.7%), p=0.028], lipid plaque [39 (76.5%) vs. 50 (49.0%), p&lt;0.001], TCFA [20 (39.2%) vs. 14 (13.7%), p=0.001], and a higher maximum lipid arc [median [IQR] 250.0° (177.5°-290.0°) vs. 190.0° (150.0°-260.0°), p=0.018) at the culprit lesion compared with PE without MØI. MACEs were significantly more frequent in PE with MØI patients compared with PE without MØI [11 (21.6%) vs. 6 (5.9%), p=0.008], mainly driven by a higher risk of cardiac death and TVR. At multivariable Cox regression model, PE with MØI [HR=2.95, 95% CI (1.09–8.02), p=0.034] was an independent predictor of MACEs. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that among ACS patients with PE the presence of MØI at culprit lesion is associated with a more aggressive phenotype of coronary atherosclerosis with more vulnerable plaque features, along with a worse prognosis at a long-term follow-up. These findings are of the utmost importance in the era of precision medicine because clearly show that macrophage infiltrates may identify patients with a higher cardiovascular risk requiring more aggressive secondary prevention therapies and a closer clinical follow-up. Prognosis Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

scholarly journals Potential relationship between high wall shear stress and plaque rupture that cause acute coronary syndrome: insights from optical coherence tomography based computational fluid dynamic simulation

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Fukuyama ◽  
H Otake ◽  
F Seike ◽  
H Kawamori ◽  
T Toba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Coherence Tomography ◽  
Shear Stress ◽  
Acute Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Wall Shear Stress ◽  
Plaque Rupture ◽  
Optical Coherence ◽  
Lumen Area ◽  
Segmental Analysis ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Fibrous Cap

Abstract Background The direct relationship between plaque rupture (PR) that cause acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and wall shear stress (WSS) remains uncertain. Methods From the Kobe University ACS-OCT registry, one hundred ACS patients whose culprit lesions had PR documented by optical coherence tomography (OCT) were enrolled. Lesion-specific 3D coronary artery models were created using OCT data. Specifically, at the ruptured portion, the tracing of the luminal edge of the residual fibrous cap was smoothly extrapolated to reconstruct the luminal contour before PR. Then, WSS was computed from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis by a single core laboratory. Relationships between WSS and the location of PR were assessed with 1) longitudinal 3-mm segmental analysis and 2) circumferential analysis. In the longitudinal segmental analysis, each culprit lesion was subdivided into five 3-mm segments with respect to the minimum lumen area (MLA) location at the centered segment (Figure. 1). In the circumferential analysis, we measured WSS values at five points from PR site and non-PR site on the cross-sections with PR. Also, each ruptured plaque was categorized into the lateral type PR (L-PR), central type PR (C-PR), and others according to the relation between the site of tearing and the cavity (Figure. 2). Results In the longitudinal 3-mm segmental analysis, the incidences of PR at upstream (UP1 and 2), MLA, and downstream (DN1 and 2) were 45%, 40%, and 15%, respectively. The highest average WSS was located in UP1 in the upstream PR (UP1: 15.5 (10.4–26.3) vs. others: 6.8 (3.3–14.7) Pa, p&lt;0.001) and MLA segment in the MLA PR (MLA: 18.8 (6.0–34.3) vs. others: 6.5 (3.1–11.8) Pa, p&lt;0.001), and the second highest WSS was located at DN1 in the downstream PR (DN1: 5.8 (3.7–11.5) vs. others: 5.5 (3.7–16.5) Pa, p=0.035). In the circumferential analysis, the average WSS at PR site was significantly higher than that of non-PR site (18.7 (7.2–35.1) vs. 13.9 (5.2–30.3) Pa, p&lt;0.001). The incidence of L-PR, C-PR, and others were 51%, 42%, and 7%, respectively. In the L-PR, the peak WSS was most frequently observed in the lateral site (66.7%), whereas that in the C-PR was most frequently observed in the center site (70%) (Figure. 3). In the L-PR, the peak WSS value was significantly lower (44.6 (19.6–65.2) vs. 84.7 (36.6–177.5) Pa, p&lt;0.001), and the thickness of broken fibrous cap was significantly thinner (40 (30–50) vs. 80 (67.5–100) μm, p&lt;0.001), and the lumen area at peak WSS site was significantly larger than those of C-PR (1.5 (1.3–2.0) vs. 1.4 (1.1–1.6) mm2, p=0.008). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of peak WSS at lateral site, thinner broken fibrous cap thickness, and larger lumen area at peak WSS site were independently associated with the development of the L-PR. Conclusions A combined approach with CFD simulation and morphological plaque evaluation by using OCT might be helpful to predict future ACS events induced by PR. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

scholarly journals Clinical Predictors of Culprit Plaque Rupture Assessed on Intravascular Ultrasound in Acute Coronary Syndrome

2010 ◽  
Vol 74 (9) ◽  
pp. 1936-1942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaya Kato ◽  
Keigo Dote ◽  
Toru Naganuma ◽  
Shota Sasaki ◽  
Kentaro Ueda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Intravascular Ultrasound ◽  
Plaque Rupture ◽  
Clinical Predictors ◽  
Coronary Syndrome
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