ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION The vulnerable plaque is usually defined as that plaque which is prone to thrombosis and/or disruption, and it is the immediate precursor to acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Such a lesion also precedes in many to most cases of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and unstable angina. However, the definition of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction now includes any elevation of troponin and there are many other reasons for an increase in troponin other than the presence, development, or progression of a narrowing in the epicardial coronary arteries. These include heart failure, atrial fibrillation or other tachyarrhythmias, prolonged hypotension and renal failure amongst others.
