ABSTRACT
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the large arteries that is characterized by the accumulation of immune cells, lipids, and calcification in the artery wall. Although it starts out as an asymptomatic disease, atherosclerosis is the most common underlying cause of cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease.1,2 In histology, the initial stages of atherosclerosis are characterized by accumulations of lipid-loaded macrophages, foam cells that form the so-called intimal xanthoma. Later, more inflammatory cells infiltrate in the arterial wall, cells start dying, and extracellular matrix is formed. A so called “fibrous cap atheroma” has formed.
