Current Advances in the Diagnostic Imaging of Atherosclerosis: Insights into the Pathophysiology of Vulnerable Plaque
Atherosclerosis is a lipoprotein-driven inflammatory disorder leading to a plaque formation at specific sites of the arterial tree. After decades of slow progression, atherosclerotic plaque rupture and formation of thrombi are the major factors responsible for the development of acute coronary syndr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-04-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/8/2992 |
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| author | Nataliya V. Mushenkova Volha I. Summerhill Dongwei Zhang Elena B. Romanenko Andrey V. Grechko Alexander N. Orekhov |
| author_facet | Nataliya V. Mushenkova Volha I. Summerhill Dongwei Zhang Elena B. Romanenko Andrey V. Grechko Alexander N. Orekhov |
| author_sort | Nataliya V. Mushenkova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Atherosclerosis is a lipoprotein-driven inflammatory disorder leading to a plaque formation at specific sites of the arterial tree. After decades of slow progression, atherosclerotic plaque rupture and formation of thrombi are the major factors responsible for the development of acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). In this regard, the detection of high-risk (vulnerable) plaques is an ultimate goal in the management of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Vulnerable plaques have specific morphological features that make their detection possible, hence allowing for identification of high-risk patients and the tailoring of therapy. Plaque ruptures predominantly occur amongst lesions characterized as thin-cap fibroatheromas (TCFA). Plaques without a rupture, such as plaque erosions, are also thrombi-forming lesions on the most frequent pathological intimal thickening or fibroatheromas. Many attempts to comprehensively identify vulnerable plaque constituents with different invasive and non-invasive imaging technologies have been made. In this review, advantages and limitations of invasive and non-invasive imaging modalities currently available for the identification of plaque components and morphologic features associated with plaque vulnerability, as well as their clinical diagnostic and prognostic value, were discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:16:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3c3a2a4c0d814f4f9d0f609d18920390 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:16:12Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-3c3a2a4c0d814f4f9d0f609d189203902023-11-19T22:30:26ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672020-04-01218299210.3390/ijms21082992Current Advances in the Diagnostic Imaging of Atherosclerosis: Insights into the Pathophysiology of Vulnerable PlaqueNataliya V. Mushenkova0Volha I. Summerhill1Dongwei Zhang2Elena B. Romanenko3Andrey V. Grechko4Alexander N. Orekhov5Pharmstandard Ventures, 123112 Moscow, RussiaDepartment of Basic Research, Institute for Atherosclerosis Research, Skolkovo Innovative Center, 121609 Moscow, RussiaDiabetes Research Center, Traditional Chinese Medicine School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, ChinaDepartment of Molecular Basis of Ontogenesis, Belozersky Institute of Physical and Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, RussiaFederal Research and Clinical Center of Intensive Care Medicine and Rehabilitology, 109240 Moscow, RussiaDepartment of Basic Research, Institute for Atherosclerosis Research, Skolkovo Innovative Center, 121609 Moscow, RussiaAtherosclerosis is a lipoprotein-driven inflammatory disorder leading to a plaque formation at specific sites of the arterial tree. After decades of slow progression, atherosclerotic plaque rupture and formation of thrombi are the major factors responsible for the development of acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). In this regard, the detection of high-risk (vulnerable) plaques is an ultimate goal in the management of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Vulnerable plaques have specific morphological features that make their detection possible, hence allowing for identification of high-risk patients and the tailoring of therapy. Plaque ruptures predominantly occur amongst lesions characterized as thin-cap fibroatheromas (TCFA). Plaques without a rupture, such as plaque erosions, are also thrombi-forming lesions on the most frequent pathological intimal thickening or fibroatheromas. Many attempts to comprehensively identify vulnerable plaque constituents with different invasive and non-invasive imaging technologies have been made. In this review, advantages and limitations of invasive and non-invasive imaging modalities currently available for the identification of plaque components and morphologic features associated with plaque vulnerability, as well as their clinical diagnostic and prognostic value, were discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/8/2992atherosclerosisvulnerable plaqueinvasive imagingnon-invasive imaging |
| spellingShingle | Nataliya V. Mushenkova Volha I. Summerhill Dongwei Zhang Elena B. Romanenko Andrey V. Grechko Alexander N. Orekhov Current Advances in the Diagnostic Imaging of Atherosclerosis: Insights into the Pathophysiology of Vulnerable Plaque International Journal of Molecular Sciences atherosclerosis vulnerable plaque invasive imaging non-invasive imaging |
| title | Current Advances in the Diagnostic Imaging of Atherosclerosis: Insights into the Pathophysiology of Vulnerable Plaque |
| title_full | Current Advances in the Diagnostic Imaging of Atherosclerosis: Insights into the Pathophysiology of Vulnerable Plaque |
| title_fullStr | Current Advances in the Diagnostic Imaging of Atherosclerosis: Insights into the Pathophysiology of Vulnerable Plaque |
| title_full_unstemmed | Current Advances in the Diagnostic Imaging of Atherosclerosis: Insights into the Pathophysiology of Vulnerable Plaque |
| title_short | Current Advances in the Diagnostic Imaging of Atherosclerosis: Insights into the Pathophysiology of Vulnerable Plaque |
| title_sort | current advances in the diagnostic imaging of atherosclerosis insights into the pathophysiology of vulnerable plaque |
| topic | atherosclerosis vulnerable plaque invasive imaging non-invasive imaging |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/8/2992 |
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