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Aortic Atherosclerosis and Embolic Events

  • Echocardiography (RM Lang, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Aortic plaques are a manifestation of the general process of atherosclerosis in which there is a progressive accumulation of cholesterol and other lipids in the intimal-medial layer of the aorta with secondary inflammation, repetitive fibrous tissue deposition, and eventually luminal surface erosions and appearance of often mobile thrombi protruding into the lumen of the aorta. Aortic plaques may give rise to two types of emboli: thromboemboli and atheroemboli (cholesterol crystal emboli). Thromboemboli are relatively large, tend to occlude medium to large arteries, and cause strokes, transient ischemic attacks, and renal infarcts and other forms of peripheral thromboembolism. Cholesterol crystal emboli are relatively minute, tend to occlude small arteries and arterioles, and may cause the blue toe syndrome, new or worsening renal insufficiency, gut ischemia, etc. Transesophageal echocardiography remains the gold standard for visualization of aortic plaques in the thoracic aorta. There are no proven therapies for aortic embolism per se; general atherosclerosis management strategies are recommended.

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Disclosure

Conflicts of interest: M. Saric: none; I. Kronzon: has received honoraria from Philips Healthcare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    Muhamed Saric

  2. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY, USA

    Itzhak Kronzon

  3. Noninvasive Cardiology Laboratory, New York University Langone Medical Center, 560 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA

    Muhamed Saric

  4. Lenox Hill Interventional Cardiac and Vascular Services, Noninvasive Cardiology, 2E, 100 East 77th Street, New York, NY, 10075, USA

    Itzhak Kronzon

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  1. Muhamed Saric
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Correspondence to Muhamed Saric.

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Saric, M., Kronzon, I. Aortic Atherosclerosis and Embolic Events. Curr Cardiol Rep 14, 342–349 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-012-0261-2

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