Compositional analysis of angioscopic yellow plaques with intravascular ultrasound radiofrequency data.
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.
Kawano
Taro
T
Nihon University School of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Itabashi, Tokyo, 173-8610, Japan.
Honye
Junko
J
Takayama
Tadateru
T
Yokoyama
Shin-ichiro
S
Chiku
Masaaki
M
Ando
Hideyuki
H
Endo
Masayoshi
M
Ichikawa
Makoto
M
Ishii
Nobuaki
N
Watanabe
Yasuo
Y
Watanabe
Ichiro
I
Saito
Satoshi
S
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