title: [Coronary angioscopy].
abstract: Coronary angioscopy evaluates the composition of the atherosclerotic plaque by direct examination of the arterial wall. The angioscope is fitted with a balloon which prevents assessment of the proximal segment of the vessels. The fibre optic system provides and excellent view of the mid and distal segments of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries appear smooth and white on angioscopy. The atherosclerotic plaque is a white or yellowish incursion. Unstable plaques are characterised by the presence of thrombus. In unstable angina, thrombus is observed in 64% of cases and in 75% of cases during the first month after myocardial infarction. The colour of the plaque seems to be related to its fragility: the yellow plaque is much more common during myocardial infarction than in unstable angina (75% versus 47% of cases). Finally, after coronary angioplasty restenosis is more commonly white, covered by neo-intimal proliferation. Angioscopy has been shown to be feasible and safe and it is a better method of identifying thrombus. At present, it is a tool for clinical research in coronary thrombosis and interventional cardiology.
authors.affiliation: Service de cardiologie C, hôpital cardiologique C, hôpital cardiologiqu
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lablanche
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Belle
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McFadden
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gautier
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Groote
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bauters
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertrand
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D017546:Angioscopy; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003331:Coronary Vessels; D006801:Humans; D015642:Radiology, Interventional