ABSTRACT
Systemic inflammation and local variations in plaque composition are crucial pathophysiologic processes leading to plaque rupture and thrombosis. While widespread inflammation is often present and multiple sites of plaque rupture are frequently seen in patients with acute coronary events,1,2 the majority of patients will present with a single, severe stenosis responsible for the heart attack.3 If these culprit lesions can be identified before they become symptomatic, new prophylactic methods could be tested with the aim of aborting heart attacks. However, previous angiographic studies have shown that these potentially lethal plaques are usually non-stenotic and not detectable by currently available imaging technologies. Consequently, a clinical need exists for a method(s) capable of identifying high-risk plaques before disruption. Multiple scientific centers around the world have concentrated their efforts on developing techniques to identify high-risk, non-stenotic atherosclerotic plaques, which are now considered a new target in interventional cardiology.
