Non-invasive imaging of plaque vulnerability: an important tool for the assessment of agents to stabilise atherosclerotic plaques.
Disruption of a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque is well-recognised as the primary cause of stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. Novel therapeutic agents are being developed to stabilise such plaques. The initial evaluation of these drugs would be facilitated by the use of non-invasive imaging techniques to identify vulnerable plaque and document serial changes in plaque stability. The aim of this review is to explain the characteristics of the leading non-invasive imaging modalities and discuss their role in examining the vulnerable plaque. This knowledge will be extremely important for physicians and scientists involved in the clinical evaluation of novel agents to stabilise the vulnerable plaque.
Sosnovik
David E
DE
Division of Cardiology, CIMIT Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. dsosnovik@partners.org
Muller
James E
JE
Kathiresan
Sekar
S
Brady
Thomas J
TJ
D000818:Animals; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography