title: Intracoronary Imaging in the Detection of Vulnerable Plaques.
abstract: Coronary artery disease is the result of atherosclerotic changes to the coronary arterial wall, comprising endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation and deposition of lipid-rich macrophage foam cells. Certain high-risk atherosclerotic plaques are vulnerable to disruption, leading to rupture, thrombosis and the clinical sequelae of acute coronary syndrome. Though recognised as the gold standard for evaluating the presence, distribution and severity of atherosclerotic lesions, invasive coronary angiography is incapable of identifying non-stenotic, vulnerable plaques that are responsible for adverse cardiovascular events. The recognition of such limitations has impelled the development of intracoronary imaging technologies, including intravascular ultrasound, optical coherence tomography and near-infrared spectroscopy, which enable the detailed evaluation of the coronary wall and atherosclerotic plaques in clinical practice. This review discusses the present status of invasive imaging technologies; summarises up-to-date, evidence-based clinical guidelines; and addresses questions that remain unanswered with regard to the future of intracoronary plaque imaging.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, 3rd Floor, William Leech Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK. Jonathan.Batty@newcastle.ac.uk.|Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK. Jonathan.Batty@newcastle.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jonathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Batty
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, 3rd Floor, William Leech Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK. S.Subba1@newcastle.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Shristy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Subba
authors.affiliation: Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK. peter.luke@nuth.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luke
authors.affiliation: Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China. liwcgigi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Li Wing Chi
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Gigi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, 3rd Floor, William Leech Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK. Hannah.Sinclair@newcastle.ac.uk.|Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK. Hannah.Sinclair@newcastle.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, 3rd Floor, William Leech Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK. vijay.kunadian@newcastle.ac.uk.|Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK. vijay.kunadian@newcastle.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kunadian
mesh_terms: D057791:Cardiac Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000379:methods; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods
keywords: Coronary artery disease; Imaging; Interventional cardiology; Intravascular ultrasonography; Near-infrared spectroscopy; Optical coherence tomography