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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2006 Jun 5.
Published in final edited form as: Ann Biomed Eng. 2005 Dec;33(12):1789–1801. doi: 10.1007/s10439-005-8267-1

TABLE 1.

Histopathological plaque classifications and comparison with AHA classifications.

HPVI Plaque Description AHA classification
V = 0 Very stable Normal or slight intimal thickening Class I, some atherogenic lipoprotein, adaptive intimal thickening
V = 1 Stable Moderate intimal thickening, no extracellular lipid, calcification or significant inflammation Class II (fatty streak), III (preatheroma)
V = 2 Slightly unstable Small lipid core (<30% of plaque size); calcification may be present; thick fibrous cap (>200 μm); little or no inflammation at plaque shoulders Class IV, Vb, and Vc
V = 3 Moderately unstable Moderate lipid core (30–40% of plaque size) and fibrous cap (65–200 μm); moderate intraplaque hemorrhage; moderate inflammation. Class Va
V = 4 Highly unstable Large lipid core(>40%); thin fibrous cap(<65 μm); large intraplaque hemorrhage; extensive inflammation at plaque shoulders; evidence of previous plaque rupture Class VI.