Thermal Heterogeneity Within Human Atherosclerotic Coronary Arteries Detected In Vivo

Abstract

Thermal heterogeneity within human atherosclerotic coronary arteries was shown in vivo by use of a special thermography catheter. This heterogeneity is larger in UA and AMI, suggesting that it may be related to the pathogenesis.

Recognition of the Importance of Embolization in Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

“…The friability may well be linked to ongoing inflammation, because many recent studies have underscored the prominent effect that elevation in C-reactive protein, necrosis factor-B , interleukins, or vascular adhesion molecules and other inflammatory markers have on long-term prognosis. [53][54][55][56][57] Of demographic features, diabetes mellitus stands out as 1 with particular risk, such as increased mortality after coronary intervention. 58 This could be attributed to the diffuseness of atherosclerotic involvement, extent of preexisting microvascular disease that reduces the adaptive capacity to embolization, or heightened inflammation related to insulin, S-glycolation products, or other metabolic factors.…”

Is There a Vulnerable Plaque?

“…6 Conversely, plaque inflammation can often be found in patients with stable coronary disease, as suggested at autopsy, 19,20 and in in vivo studies using a thermistor catheter. 21 The very common findings of chronically inflamed plaques in stable patients is not surprising, considering the fact that atherosclerosis is largely a chronic inflammatory process and as they are common they are unlikely to explain by themselves the very occasional burst of instability.…”

Molecular Imaging of Cardiovascular Disease

“…To achieve this, quantifi able information regarding the cellular, biochemical and molecular composition of lesions needs to be obtained. Various imaging techniques, such as angioscopy (43) and intravascular ultrasonography (44,45) or more recently with optical coherence tomography, (46,47) thermography, (48,49) elastography (50,51) and magnetic resonance imaging, (52) have attempted to characterize these plaques using tissue characteristics such as fi brous cap thickness, necrotic core and the severity of the infl ammatory component in the lesions. Although promising, these technologies have shown limited clinical success.…”