ABSTRACT
Inflammation within the plaque reduces collagen synthesis within the plaque, making the structure weaker and more prone to rupture.4,5 The fibrous cap that forms on top of the plaque is a dynamic structure comprised of disorganized collagen and sparseness of smooth muscles cells. Inflammation causes the smooth muscle cells to die through the process of apoptosis (programmed cell death). A ruptured plaque typically results in formation of a local blood clot (thrombus) that later becomes organized and leads to the development of atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries due to lipid accumulation) or total occlusion of the coronary arteries.
