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Mechanisms of the Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque and Imaging

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Mechanisms of Vascular Disease

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Abstract

Atherosclerotic disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Plaque rupture and erosion lead to superimposed thrombosis and are responsible for the vast majority of acute ischaemic syndromes. Vulnerable plaques, plaques that are at increased risk of rupture, pose certain high-risk morphological features that can be imaged. Key processes include thin-cap fibroatheromas, larger plaque volume, larger lipid-rich necrotic core, neovascularization, intraplaque haemorrhage and spotty microcalcification. Various non-invasive and invasive imaging modalities have been developed with the aim to identify vulnerable plaque features in vivo and stratify patients at a higher risk of future cardiovascular events.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Khizar Rana & Johan W. Verjans

  2. University of Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Khizar Rana & Johan W. Verjans

  3. Monash Heart, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Stephen J. Nicholls

  4. Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Johan W. Verjans

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  1. Khizar Rana
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  2. Stephen J. Nicholls
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  3. Johan W. Verjans
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Correspondence to Johan W. Verjans .

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  1. Discipline of Surgery, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Robert Fitridge

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Rana, K., Nicholls, S.J., Verjans, J.W. (2020). Mechanisms of the Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque and Imaging. In: Fitridge, R. (eds) Mechanisms of Vascular Disease. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43683-4_3

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