title: Compositional analysis of angioscopic yellow plaques with intravascular ultrasound radiofrequency data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To identify subclinical high-risk plaques is potentially important because those vulnerable plaques may have a greater likelihood of rupture and subsequent thrombosis. The aim of this study is to reveal the histology of angioscopic yellow plaques known as vulnerable plaques by intravascular ultrasound radiofrequency data analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one coronary plaques in 21 patients, which were non-culprit, de novo, angiographically non-obstructive (<50%) lesions, were analyzed with Virtual Histology - intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) and coronary angioscopy. These plaques were prospectively divided into 4 groups (Grade 0 to 3) by the yellow color intensity and we compared plaque morphology, echogenicity and composition among their groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Morphology and echogenicity evaluated by standard gray-scale IVUS were not significantly different among those groups. On analyzing plaque composition by VH-IVUS, mean percentage of necrotic core was significantly larger in yellow plaque (Grade 2 and 3) than white plaque (Grade 0).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Angioscopic yellow plaque included a larger amount of necrotic core analyzed by VH-IVUS than white plaque.
authors: Nihon University School of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Itabashi, Tokyo, 173-8610, Japan.
authors: Taro
authors: T
authors: Kawano
authors: Junko
authors: J
authors: Honye
authors: Tadateru
authors: T
authors: Takayama
authors: Shin-ichiro
authors: S
authors: Yokoyama
authors: Masaaki
authors: M
authors: Chiku
authors: Hideyuki
authors: H
authors: Ando
authors: Masayoshi
authors: M
authors: Endo
authors: Makoto
authors: M
authors: Ichikawa
authors: Nobuaki
authors: N
authors: Ishii
authors: Yasuo
authors: Y
authors: Watanabe
authors: Ichiro
authors: I
authors: Watanabe
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Saito
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D017546:Angioscopy; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation