(Circulation. 2001;103:934.)
© 2001 American Heart Association, Inc.
Clinical Investigation and Reports |
From the Department of Cardiovascular Pathology (A.P.B., F.D.K., A.F., D.K.W., R.V.), Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC; Louisiana State University (G.T.M.), New Orleans; and the University of Maryland (J.S.), Baltimore.
| Abstract |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Methods and ResultsWe identified acute and healed ruptures from 142 men who died of sudden coronary death and performed morphometric measurements of plaque burden, luminal stenosis, and smooth muscle cell phenotype. Healed ruptures were found in 61% of hearts and were associated with healed myocardial infarction, increased heart weight, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. Multiple healed rupture sites with layering were frequently found in segments with acute and healed rupture; the percent area luminal narrowing increased with increased numbers of healed sites of previous rupture. The underlying percent luminal narrowing for acute ruptures (mean 79±15%) exceeded that for healed ruptures (mean 66±14%, P=0.0001), and the area within the internal elastic lamina was significantly less in healed ruptures than in acute ruptures, when segments were grouped by distance from the ostium. Healed ruptures favored the accumulation of immature smooth muscle cells at repair sites, with a cellular proliferation index of 0.40±0.09%, significantly higher than the index at the sites of rupture (P=0.008).
ConclusionsThese data provide evidence that silent plaque rupture is a form of wound healing that results in increased percent stenosis. Healed ruptures occur in arteries with less cross-sectional area luminal narrowing than acute ruptures and are a frequent finding in men who die suddenly with severe coronary atherosclerosis.
Key Words: plaque death, sudden
| Introduction |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Although stenosis is easily identified by angiography, very few data exist to explain how plaques narrow. It is speculated that repeated fibrous cap rupture and thrombosis can incite plaque progression and/or tissue contraction in the absence of clinical ischemic events. Therefore, an understanding of the pathology of healed ruptures is of critical clinical importance. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and morphological characteristics, as well as the relationship to traditional risk factors, of healed plaque ruptures in a series of sudden cardiac death.
| Methods |
|---|
|
|
|---|
1 epicardial coronary
artery had
75% cross-sectional area lumen narrowed by
atherosclerotic plaque or plaque with superimposed
thrombus.5 One hundred
thirteen of these cases were published previously without data on
healed plaque
ruptures.6 7
Classification of Sudden Deaths
Sudden deaths were initially classified by the
presumed mechanism of death: acute thrombus due to acute plaque
rupture, acute thrombus due to acute plaque erosion, stable plaque with
healed infarct in the absence of an acute thrombus, and stable plaque
(
75% cross-sectional area luminal narrowing) without evidence of
infarction.6 8
Identification of Healed Sites
Coronary arteries were studied as previously
described.6 Any area of
cross-sectional luminal narrowing grossly estimated at
50% was
submitted for histological analysis. All acute ruptures and any section
that suggested the possibility of previous rupture on the basis of
Movat pentachrome staining (healed sites recognized by brilliant
blue-green color) were confirmed by picrosirius red staining and
polarization microscopy.4
When viewed under polarized light, this special stain highlights
collagen types III and I differentially, allowing visualization of
interruptions in the fibrous cap. Healed sites consisted of breaks in
collagen type I (yellow-red birefringence) overlying a necrotic core
with superimposed layer of collagen type III (green birefringence)
(Figure 1
).
|
Risk Factor Analysis
Evaluation of traditional risk factors was performed
on postmortem blood samples as previously
described.6 Total
cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and cigarette smoking (estimated by serum
thiocyanate >90 µmol/L) were determined by serum analysis, and
percent glycohemoglobin, for estimation of glucose intolerance, was
determined by analysis of red blood cells. Hypertension was determined
by evaluation of renal vasculature and
history.9 The association
between risk factors and the presence of acute and healed plaque
ruptures was determined by multivariate analysis (logistic regression
with model coefficients, Statview software, SAS Institute) using
age, glycohemoglobin, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and body mass
index as continuous variables and hypertension and cigarette smoking as
nominal variables.
Morphometric Analysis of Healed and Acute
Ruptures
The right, left anterior descending, and left
circumflex coronary arteries were divided into proximal and middle
distal regions. The proximal regions consisted of the first 3 cm for
the right coronary, before the first diagonal branch for the left
anterior descending, and the obtuse marginal for the left circumflex
artery. Middle segments were between the first and second diagonals for
the left anterior descending, between left obtuse marginal 1 and left
obtuse marginal 2 for the circumflex, and beyond 3 cm of the right
coronary artery to the right marginal branch. The arteries were grouped
by distance from the ostium to compare internal elastic lamina (IEL)
areas between acute and healed ruptures at proximal, middle, and distal
regions. The areas within the external elastic lamina, IEL, and lumen
were measured on coronary sections by use of imaging software (IP
Laboratory, Scanalytics, Inc). In the case of multiple ruptures in a
single section, only the most superficial rupture site with the acute
thrombus or healed rupture repair site was measured. The percent
stenosis was derived from the formula (1-lumen area/IEL
area)x100. In cases with acute plaque rupture, the area of the
thrombus was not included for the calculation of percent
stenosis.
Immunohistochemistry
Cell populations were identified by use of mouse
monoclonal antibodies against human muscle
-actin (1A4, Sigma
Chemical Co, dilution 1:4000), macrophages (KP-1, Dako, dilution 1:50),
and the T-cell marker (CD45RO, Dako, dilution 1:400). Smooth muscle
maturation markers included calponin (Dako, 1:200) and smoothelin
(Monosan, 1:10). To identify proliferating cells, tissue sections were
stained with the monoclonal MIB-1 antibody (Ki-67, ImmunoTech, 1:500
dilution).
Analysis of immunohistochemistry for cell type and markers of smooth muscle cell (SMC) maturation were performed with color-image software (Bioquant). The most recent or superficial healed rupture site was measured in cases of multiple healed ruptures. The number of Ki-67positive cells per section was counted manually at x400 magnification, and the percentage of positive Ki-67 cells in healed repair and acute rupture sites was calculated.
| Results |
|---|
|
|
|---|
The mechanism of death was presumed to be acute plaque rupture with acute thrombus in 44 men (mean age 49±10 years), acute plaque erosion with acute thrombus in 23 men (mean age 45±8 years), stable plaque with healed infarct in 41 men (mean age 53±11 years, P=0.004 versus eroded plaque, Students t test), and stable plaque without myocardial infarct in 34 men (mean age 54±12 years, P=0.003 versus eroded plaque and P=0.04 versus plaque rupture).
Healed Ruptures and Culprit Plaque and
Healed Infarcts
There were a total of 189 healed rupture sites, 22 of
which (12%) resulted in total coronary occlusion. One or more healed
ruptures not underlying an acute rupture site were present in 86 of 142
hearts (61% of total). Healed ruptures were especially frequent in
hearts with acute plaque rupture (75% of cases) and hearts with stable
plaque and healed myocardial infarction (80% of cases,
Table 1
). In hearts with stable culprit plaques,
those with healed myocardial infarcts were more likely to have
1
healed ruptures than those without healed myocardial infarcts (80%
versus 53%, P=0.01, Fishers
exact test), and the mean number of healed ruptures was greater
(2.0±1.4 versus 1.1±1.4,
P=0.016,
Table 1
, Students
t test).
|
Evidence of Multiple Healed Previous
Rupture Sites in Acute Rupture and at Healed Rupture Sites
Of the 44 acute ruptures, Sirius red staining
demonstrated evidence of healed previous rupture in 33. Of these, 9
showed 1 healed previous rupture site, 9 showed 2 healed previous
rupture sites, 9 showed 3 healed previous rupture sites, and 6 showed 4
healed previous rupture sites. Only 11 acute rupture sites overlay
large necrotic cores filled with hemorrhage and little collagen
deposition. Acute ruptures occurring at sites of
3 healed previous
rupture sites demonstrated greater underlying luminal narrowing
(94±4%) than those without healed previous rupture (74±12%,
P=0.001, Students
t test). Of the 189 healed
ruptures, 57 (30%) demonstrated only 1 healed rupture site, 64 (34%)
showed 2
(Figure 2
), 60 (32%) 3, and 8 (4%) 4.
|
Morphometric Comparison of Acute and Healed
Plaque Ruptures
The mean percent cross-sectional area luminal narrowing
increased with the number of healed rupture sites
(Figure 3
) and was consistently greater in acute versus
healed ruptures. Acute ruptures occurred in arteries with a larger IEL
compared with healed ruptures in all 3 locations: proximal, middle, and
distal segments
(Figure 4
).
|
|
Cell Proliferation and Muscle
Differentiation
The mean cell proliferation index in the healed rupture
sites was 0.40±0.09%, compared with 0.16±0.04% in areas of acute
rupture (P=0.008, Students
t test)
(Figure 5
). Evidence of cell proliferation was found in
healed rupture sites in 76% of cases studied, but in only 1 case of
acute rupture. The mean percent area of
-actin was 19.9±3.7% in
areas of healed rupture, versus 2.1±1.3% for calponin
(Figure 6
). The mean %
-actin area/% calponin staining
in areas of healed rupture was 15.7±8.4%. There was no evidence of
smoothelin expression in healed rupture sites, despite staining within
the media as an internal control.
|
|
Healed Ruptures and Risk Factors
Elevated total cholesterol and total/HDL cholesterol
were associated with the presence of 1 or 2 healed ruptures, and
elevated cholesterol, total/HDL cholesterol, glycohemoglobin, advanced
age, and increased body mass index were associated with
3 healed
ruptures
(Table 2
).
|
Healed Ruptures and Heart Weight
Heart weight was increased in men who died with healed
infarcts and stable plaque (mean 530±116 g) compared with plaque
erosion (464±105 g, P=0.03) or
stable plaque without healed infarction (460±98,
P=0.008, Students
t test). As the numbers of
healed ruptures increased, so did heart weight (468±116 g, no healed
ruptures; 498±118 g, 1 to 2 healed ruptures; 558±114 g, >2 healed
ruptures; none versus 1 to 2 healed ruptures,
P=0.03, and none versus >2
healed ruptures, P=0.002). When
hypertensive men were excluded, there was a greater association between
heart weight and healed ruptures (431±73 g, no healed ruptures;
493±113 g, 1 to 2 healed ruptures; 554±112 g, >2 healed ruptures;
P=0.0001, none versus >2
healed ruptures).
| Discussion |
|---|
|
|
|---|
A retrospective analysis of the mechanisms of progressive luminal narrowing based on morphology at a single time point has its limitations. Nevertheless, the present study supports the hypothesis of plaque rupture as a mechanism of increased luminal narrowing. First, evidence of previous plaque rupture was common in arteries with acute rupture. Indeed, an acute rupture overlying a single, large, lipid-rich pool without evidence of previous collagen layering was the exception in these culprit plaques. Second, acute ruptures overlying healed ruptures were more narrowed than de novo ruptures, suggesting that repetitive injury may cause plaque enlargement. Third, there was a low but significantly increased rate of cell proliferation in the SMC-rich regions of healed rupture sites, providing evidence of further plaque expansion.
Although the current paradigms of coronary atherosclerosis emphasize the importance of SMCs and matrix as contributing factors to plaque growth, the mechanism(s) of arterial narrowing are most likely complex, involving more than an overall increase in plaque burden. Wound contraction as a mechanism of arterial narrowing beyond that of plaque burden alone is supported by a number of animal studies. Fibrin is involved in the progression of luminal narrowing.15 Sequential injury in the rabbit is associated with wound contraction associated with the interaction between SMCs and extensive fibrin deposition.16 These experimental data, along with our study, suggest that selective components of the coagulation cascade may be potential therapeutic targets for the progressive luminal loss associated with episodic ruptures.
In the present study, healed repair sites were characterized by a predominance of SMCs, most likely derived from both migration and proliferation. The relatively low rate of proliferating SMCs in the healing rupture sites is compatible with reports of cell proliferation in native plaques removed by atherectomy.17 18 The increased numbers of proliferating SMCs at healing sites compared with the acute plaque rupture may reflect increased vascularity and wound healing, as suggested by previous topographical studies.18 The relatively weak expression of calponin in the neointimal SMCs suggests that initially the SMCs are proliferating, with few contractile features. Calponin has been demonstrated to be expressed primarily in differentiated SMCs and is involved in the regulation of contraction.19 The complete absence of smoothelin expression within the plaque intima corroborates the lack of fully differentiated contractile SMCs in areas of plaque repair.20
The present study demonstrates an association between diabetes (glucose intolerance) and healed plaque ruptures, as well as an association between obesity and healed plaque ruptures. The fact that the 3 risk factors (dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, and obesity) would all contribute to an increase in healed plaque ruptures is not unexpected, because of the interrelationship between diabetes, obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and decreased HDL cholesterol. Interestingly, however, we did not find an association between acute plaque ruptures and glucose intolerance. The association between acute ruptures and diabetes may be more difficult to detect because fatal plaque rupture is a single event, as opposed to multiple events in the case of healed plaque ruptures. In a previous study with noncoronary deaths used as controls, we demonstrated an association between diabetes and sudden coronary death with stable plaque in women, although healed ruptures were not investigated in that study.21
Because of a lack of an animal model of plaque rupture, we are restricted to autopsy tissue to explain the morphological changes that occur in unstable plaques. Nevertheless, on the basis of our static observations, the data indicate that at the very least, repeated plaque ruptures that heal are frequent in men who died suddenly. The data further suggest that silent ruptures result in significant increase in plaque burden and negative remodeling. Thus, in many cases, fatal ruptures may represent the final stage of an ongoing process of arterial wound healing.
| Acknowledgments |
|---|
| Footnotes |
|---|
The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Department of the Army, the Department of the Air Force, or the Department of Defense.
Received August 30, 2000; revision received October 6, 2000; accepted October 16, 2000.
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G. A. Rodriguez-Granillo, H. M. Garcia-Garcia, E. P. Mc Fadden, M. Valgimigli, J. Aoki, P. de Feyter, and P. W. Serruys In Vivo Intravascular Ultrasound-Derived Thin-Cap Fibroatheroma Detection Using Ultrasound Radiofrequency Data Analysis J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., December 6, 2005; 46(11): 2038 - 2042. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. A. Fallavollita, B. J. Riegel, G. Suzuki, U. Valeti, and J. M. Canty Jr. Mechanism of sudden cardiac death in pigs with viable chronically dysfunctional myocardium and ischemic cardiomyopathy Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, December 1, 2005; 289(6): H2688 - H2696. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. Cai, T. S. Hatsukami, M. S. Ferguson, W. S. Kerwin, T. Saam, B. Chu, N. Takaya, N. L. Polissar, and C. Yuan In Vivo Quantitative Measurement of Intact Fibrous Cap and Lipid-Rich Necrotic Core Size in Atherosclerotic Carotid Plaque: Comparison of High-Resolution, Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Histology Circulation, November 29, 2005; 112(22): 3437 - 3444. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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B. A. Wasserman, R. J. Wityk, H. H. Trout III, and R. Virmani Low-Grade Carotid Stenosis: Looking Beyond the Lumen With MRI Stroke, November 1, 2005; 36(11): 2504 - 2513. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. L. Johnson, S. J. George, A. C. Newby, and C. L. Jackson Divergent effects of matrix metalloproteinases 3, 7, 9, and 12 on atherosclerotic plaque stability in mouse brachiocephalic arteries PNAS, October 25, 2005; 102(43): 15575 - 15580. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M.-K. Hong, G. S. Mintz, C. W. Lee, B.-K. Lee, T.-H. Yang, Y.-H. Kim, J.-M. Song, K.-H. Han, D.-H. Kang, S.-S. Cheong, et al. The Site of Plaque Rupture in Native Coronary Arteries: A Three-Vessel Intravascular Ultrasound Analysis J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., July 19, 2005; 46(2): 261 - 265. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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F. Moselewski, C. J. O'Donnell, S. Achenbach, M. Ferencik, J. Massaro, A. Nguyen, R. C. Cury, S. Abbara, I.-K. Jang, T. J. Brady, et al. Calcium Concentration of Individual Coronary Calcified Plaques as Measured by Multidetector Row Computed Tomography Circulation, June 21, 2005; 111(24): 3236 - 3241. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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A. Tanaka, K. Shimada, T. Sano, M. Namba, T. Sakamoto, Y. Nishida, T. Kawarabayashi, D. Fukuda, and J. Yoshikawa Multiple Plaque Rupture and C-Reactive Protein in Acute Myocardial Infarction J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., May 17, 2005; 45(10): 1594 - 1599. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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S. Lai, J. A. C. Lima, H. Lai, D. Vlahov, D. Celentano, W. Tong, J. G. Bartlett, J. Margolick, and E. K. Fishman Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 Infection, Cocaine, and Coronary Calcification Arch Intern Med, March 28, 2005; 165(6): 690 - 695. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. Johnson, K. Carson, H. Williams, S. Karanam, A. Newby, G. Angelini, S. George, and C. Jackson Plaque Rupture After Short Periods of Fat Feeding in the Apolipoprotein E-Knockout Mouse: Model Characterization and Effects of Pravastatin Treatment Circulation, March 22, 2005; 111(11): 1422 - 1430. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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S. Z.H. Rittersma, A. C. van der Wal, K. T. Koch, J. J. Piek, J. P.S. Henriques, K. J. Mulder, J. P.H.M. Ploegmakers, M. Meesterman, and R. J. de Winter Plaque Instability Frequently Occurs Days or Weeks Before Occlusive Coronary Thrombosis: A Pathological Thrombectomy Study in Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Circulation, March 8, 2005; 111(9): 1160 - 1165. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. Takano, S. Inami, F. Ishibashi, K. Okamatsu, K. Seimiya, T. Ohba, S. Sakai, and K. Mizuno Angioscopic follow-up study of coronary ruptured plaques in nonculprit lesions J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., March 1, 2005; 45(5): 652 - 658. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. E. Sousa, M. A. Costa, E. M. Tuzcu, J. S. Yadav, and S. Ellis New Frontiers in Interventional Cardiology Circulation, February 8, 2005; 111(5): 671 - 681. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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T. Saam, M.S. Ferguson, V.L. Yarnykh, N. Takaya, D. Xu, N.L. Polissar, T.S. Hatsukami, and C. Yuan Quantitative Evaluation of Carotid Plaque Composition by In Vivo MRI Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., January 1, 2005; 25(1): 234 - 239. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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F D Kolodgie, R Virmani, A P Burke, A Farb, D K Weber, R Kutys, A V Finn, and H K Gold Pathologic assessment of the vulnerable human coronary plaque Heart, December 1, 2004; 90(12): 1385 - 1391. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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G. Rioufol, M. Gilard, G. Finet, I. Ginon, J. Boschat, and X. Andre-Fouet Evolution of Spontaneous Atherosclerotic Plaque Rupture With Medical Therapy: Long-Term Follow-Up With Intravascular Ultrasound Circulation, November 2, 2004; 110(18): 2875 - 2880. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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B. Chu, T. S. Hatsukami, N. L. Polissar, X.-Q. Zhao, L. W. Kraiss, D. L. Parker, J. C. Waterton, J. S. Raichlen, W. Hamar, and C. Yuan Determination of Carotid Artery Atherosclerotic Lesion Type and Distribution in Hypercholesterolemic Patients With Moderate Carotid Stenosis Using Noninvasive Magnetic Resonance Imaging Stroke, November 1, 2004; 35(11): 2444 - 2448. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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R. Erbel, A. Schmermund, M. Abedin, Y. Tintut, and L. L. Demer Clinical Significance of Coronary Calcification Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., October 1, 2004; 24(10): e172 - e172. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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L. Mazzolai, M. A. Duchosal, M. Korber, K. Bouzourene, J. F. Aubert, H. Hao, V. Vallet, H. R. Brunner, J. Nussberger, G. Gabbiani, et al. Endogenous Angiotensin II Induces Atherosclerotic Plaque Vulnerability and Elicits a Th1 Response in ApoE-/- Mice Hypertension, September 1, 2004; 44(3): 277 - 282. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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A. Farb, F. D. Kolodgie, J.-Y. Hwang, A. P. Burke, K. Tefera, D. K. Weber, T. N. Wight, and R. Virmani Extracellular Matrix Changes in Stented Human Coronary Arteries Circulation, August 24, 2004; 110(8): 940 - 947. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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K. Thygesen and B. F Uretsky Acute ischaemia as a trigger of sudden cardiac death Eur. Heart J. Suppl., August 1, 2004; 6(suppl_D): D88 - D90. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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U. J. Schoepf, C. R. Becker, B. M. Ohnesorge, and E. K. Yucel CT of Coronary Artery Disease Radiology, July 1, 2004; 232(1): 18 - 37. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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A. P. Burke, F. D. Kolodgie, A. Zieske, D. R. Fowler, D. K. Weber, P. J. Varghese, A. Farb, and R. Virmani Morphologic Findings of Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaques in Diabetics: A Postmortem Study Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., July 1, 2004; 24(7): 1266 - 1271. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. A Schaar, J. E Muller, E. Falk, R. Virmani, V. Fuster, P. W Serruys, A. Colombo, C. Stefanadis, S Ward Casscells, P. R Moreno, et al. Terminology for high-risk and vulnerable coronary artery plaques Eur. Heart J., June 2, 2004; 25(12): 1077 - 1082. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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B. Chu, A. Kampschulte, M. S. Ferguson, W. S. Kerwin, V. L. Yarnykh, K. D. O'Brien, N. L. Polissar, T. S. Hatsukami, and C. Yuan Hemorrhage in the Atherosclerotic Carotid Plaque: A High-Resolution MRI Study Stroke, May 1, 2004; 35(5): 1079 - 1084. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. M. Canty Jr, G. Suzuki, M. D. Banas, F. Verheyen, M. Borgers, and J. A. Fallavollita Hibernating Myocardium: Chronically Adapted to Ischemia but Vulnerable to Sudden Death Circ. Res., April 30, 2004; 94(8): 1142 - 1149. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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P. de Groote, N. Lamblin, F. Mouquet, D. Plichon, E. McFadden, E. Van Belle, and C. Bauters Impact of diabetes mellitus on long-term survival in patients with congestive heart failure Eur. Heart J., April 2, 2004; 25(8): 656 - 662. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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P. Eriksson, H. Deguchi, A. Samnegard, P. Lundman, S. Boquist, P. Tornvall, C.-G. Ericsson, L. Bergstrand, L.-O. Hansson, S. Ye, et al. Human Evidence That the Cystatin C Gene Is Implicated in Focal Progression of Coronary Artery Disease Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., March 1, 2004; 24(3): 551 - 557. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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K. Fujii, Y. Kobayashi, G. S. Mintz, H. Takebayashi, G. Dangas, I. Moussa, R. Mehran, A. J. Lansky, E. Kreps, M. Collins, et al. Intravascular Ultrasound Assessment of Ulcerated Ruptured Plaques: A Comparison of Culprit and Nonculprit Lesions of Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes and Lesions in Patients Without Acute Coronary Syndromes Circulation, November 18, 2003; 108(20): 2473 - 2478. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. Naghavi, P. Libby, E. Falk, S. W. Casscells, S. Litovsky, J. Rumberger, J. J. Badimon, C. Stefanadis, P. Moreno, G. Pasterkamp, et al. From Vulnerable Plaque to Vulnerable Patient: A Call for New Definitions and Risk Assessment Strategies: Part II Circulation, October 14, 2003; 108(15): 1772 - 1778. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. Naghavi, P. Libby, E. Falk, S. W. Casscells, S. Litovsky, J. Rumberger, J. J. Badimon, C. Stefanadis, P. Moreno, G. Pasterkamp, et al. From Vulnerable Plaque to Vulnerable Patient: A Call for New Definitions and Risk Assessment Strategies: Part I Circulation, October 7, 2003; 108(14): 1664 - 1672. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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P. Schoenhagen, G. W. Stone, S. E. Nissen, C. L. Grines, J. Griffin, B. S. Clemson, D. G. Vince, K. Ziada, T. Crowe, C. Apperson-Hanson, et al. Coronary Plaque Morphology and Frequency of Ulceration Distant From Culprit Lesions in Patients With Unstable and Stable Presentation Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., October 1, 2003; 23(10): 1895 - 1900. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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P. Cullen, R. Baetta, S. Bellosta, F. Bernini, G. Chinetti, A. Cignarella, A. von Eckardstein, A. Exley, M. Goddard, M. Hofker, et al. Rupture of the Atherosclerotic Plaque: Does a Good Animal Model Exist? Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., April 1, 2003; 23(4): 535 - 542. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. Sullivan, N. Ishikawa, L. Sheppard, D. Siscovick, H. Checkoway, and J. Kaufman Exposure to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter and Primary Cardiac Arrest among Persons With and Without Clinically Recognized Heart Disease Am. J. Epidemiol., March 15, 2003; 157(6): 501 - 509. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. Oberhoff and K. R Karsch Who wants his plaque sealed? Eur. Heart J., March 2, 2003; 24(6): 494 - 495. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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P. K. Shah Mechanisms of plaque vulnerability and rupture J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., February 19, 2003; 41(4_Suppl_S): 15S - 22S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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S. Konstantinides, K. Schafer, and D. J. Loskutoff Do PAI-1 and Vitronectin Promote or Inhibit Neointima Formation?: The Exact Role of the Fibrinolytic System in Vascular Remodeling Remains Uncertain Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., December 1, 2002; 22(12): 1943 - 1945. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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P J Sheridan and D C Crossman Critical review of unstable angina and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction Postgrad. Med. J., December 1, 2002; 78(926): 717 - 726. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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A. P. Burke, V. Fonseca, F. Kolodgie, A. Zieske, L. Fink, and R. Virmani Increased Serum Homocysteine and Sudden Death Resulting from Coronary Atherosclerosis With Fibrous Plaques Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., November 1, 2002; 22(11): 1936 - 1941. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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F. D. Kolodgie, A. P. Burke, A. Farb, D. K. Weber, R. Kutys, T. N. Wight, and R. Virmani Differential Accumulation of Proteoglycans and Hyaluronan in Culprit Lesions: Insights Into Plaque Erosion Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., October 1, 2002; 22(10): 1642 - 1648. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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A. Maehara, G. S. Mintz, A. B. Bui, O. R. Walter, M. T. Castagna, D. Canos, A. D. Pichard, L. F. Satler, R. Waksman, W. O. Suddath, et al. Morphologic and angiographic features of coronary plaque rupture detected by intravascular ultrasound J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., September 4, 2002; 40(5): 904 - 910. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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P.J. Gallagher More histological information in acute coronary death Eur. Heart J., September 2, 2002; 23(18): 1406 - 1408. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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P. Schoenhagen, E. M. Tuzcu, and S. G. Ellis Plaque Vulnerability, Plaque Rupture, and Acute Coronary Syndromes: (Multi)-Focal Manifestation of a Systemic Disease Process Circulation, August 13, 2002; 106(7): 760 - 762. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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G. Rioufol, G. Finet, I. Ginon, X. Andre-Fouet, R. Rossi, E. Vialle, E. Desjoyaux, G. Convert, J.F. Huret, and A. Tabib Multiple Atherosclerotic Plaque Rupture in Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Three-Vessel Intravascular Ultrasound Study Circulation, August 13, 2002; 106(7): 804 - 808. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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G Pasterkamp and R Virmani The erythrocyte: a new player in atheromatous core formation Heart, August 1, 2002; 88(2): 115 - 116. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. R. Bennett Breaking the Plaque: Evidence for Plaque Rupture in Animal Models of Atherosclerosis Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., May 1, 2002; 22(5): 713 - 714. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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H. Williams, J. L. Johnson, K. G. S. Carson, and C. L. Jackson Characteristics of Intact and Ruptured Atherosclerotic Plaques in Brachiocephalic Arteries of Apolipoprotein E Knockout Mice Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., May 1, 2002; 22(5): 788 - 792. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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R. A. Kreisberg and A. Oberman Lipids and Atherosclerosis: Lessons Learned from Randomized Controlled Trials of Lipid Lowering and Other Relevant Studies J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2002; 87(2): 423 - 437. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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A. P. Burke, F. D. Kolodgie, A. Farb, D. Weber, and R. Virmani Morphological Predictors of Arterial Remodeling in Coronary Atherosclerosis Circulation, January 22, 2002; 105(3): 297 - 303. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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