title: The high-risk plaque initiative: primary prevention of atherothrombotic events in the asymptomatic population.
abstract: The High-Risk Plaque (HRP) Initiative is a research and development effort to advance the understanding, recognition, and management of asymptomatic individuals at risk for a near-term atherothrombotic event such as myocardial infarction or stroke. Clinical studies using the newest technologies have been initiated, including the BioImage Study in which novel approaches are tested in a typical health plan population. Asymptomatic at-risk individuals were enrolled, including a survey-only group (n = 865), a group undergoing traditional risk factor scoring (n = 718), and a group in which all were assessed for both risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis (n = 6104). The latter two groups underwent baseline examination in a dedicated mobile facility equipped with advanced imaging tools suitable for noninvasive screening for subclinical atherosclerosis (coronary artery calcium by computed tomography [CT], carotid and aortic disease by ultrasound, and ankle-brachial index). Selected participants were offered advanced imaging (contrast-enhanced CT, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography/CT). Plasma, PAXgene RNA, and DNA samples were obtained for biomarker discovery studies. All individuals will be followed until 600 major atherothrombotic events have occurred in those undergoing imaging.
authors.affiliation: Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Cardiology/Institute of Clinial Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital Skejby, Brendstrupgaardsvej 100, Aarhus, Denmark. erling.falk@ki.au.dk
authors.forename: Erling
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sillesen
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muntendam
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fuster
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011322:Primary Prevention; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers