PMID: 16613179Apr 15, 2006Paper

Mechanisms of coronary plaque formation and disruption

Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine
Yoshiki Matsuo, Takashi Akasaka

Abstract

We review here the evolutional understanding of the pathophysiology of chronic and acute phase of coronary artery disease (CAD). Although we previously considered CAD as a cholesterol storage disease, we currently understand that atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disorder and inflammation plays a major role in all stages of atherogenesis. We formerly focused our attention on luminal narrowing due to the atheroma. However, we now recognize the need to attend to non-obstructive lesions and their biological attributes as well. Moreover, plaque disruption is thought to occur due to, not only local changes in the plaque itself, but also systemic changes in the patient. Thus, treatment of CAD should involve the approach of mechanical revascularization and systemic preventive intervention.

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