Multiple yellow plaques assessed by angioscopy with quantitative colorimetry in patients with myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND
Multiple angioscopic yellow plaques are associated with diffuse atherosclerotic plaque, and may be prevalent in patients with myocardial infarction (MI), so in the present study the yellow plaques in the coronary arteries of patients with MI was evaluated using quantitative colorimetry, and compared with those of patients with stable angina (SA).


RESULTS
In the recorded angioscopic images of 3 coronary vessels in 29 patients (15 patients with MI, 14 with SA), yellow plaques were determined as visually yellow regions with b* value >0 (yellow color intensity) measured by the quantitative colorimetric method. A total of 90 yellow plaques were identified (b* =19.35+/-8.3, 3.05-45.35). Yellow plaques were significantly more prevalent in 14 (93%) of 15 culprit lesions of MI as compared with 8 (57%) of 14 of SA (p=0.03). In non-culprit segments, yellow plaques were similarly prevalent in 13 (87%) patients with MI and 11 (79%) with SA (p=0.65). Overall, multiple (> or =2) yellow plaques were prevalent in 13 (87%) patients with MI, similar to the 10 (71%) with SA (p=0.38). The number of yellow plaques was significantly higher in patients with MI (3.8+/-1.9) than in those with SA (2.4+/-1.6, p=0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggests that patients with MI tend to have diffuse atherosclerotic plaque in their coronary arteries.
Inami
Shigenobu
S
Chiba-Hokusoh Hospital, Nippon Medical School, Chiba, Japan.
Ishibashi
Fumiyuki
F
Waxman
Sergio
S
Okamatsu
Kentaro
K
Seimiya
Koji
K
Takano
Masamichi
M
Uemura
Ryota
R
Sano
Junko
J
Mizuno
Kyoichi
K
D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000473:pathology; D017546:Angioscopy / Q000379:methods*; D003124:Colorimetry / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D008055:Lipids