title: From vulnerable plaque to atherothrombosis.
abstract: Plaque rupture precipitates approximately 75% of all fatal coronary thrombi. Therefore, the plaque prone to rupture is the primary focus of this review. The lipid-rich core and fibrous cap are pivotal in the understanding of plaque rupture. Plaque rupture is a localized process within the plaque caused by degradation of a tiny fibrous cap rather than by diffuse inflammation of the plaque. Atherosclerosis is a multifocal disease, but plaques prone to rupture seem to be oligofocal at most.
authors.affiliation: Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital (Skejby), Aarhus, Denmark. troels.thim@ki.au.dk
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thim
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Hagensen
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bentzon
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Falk
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids; D009336:Necrosis; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids