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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2008 Sep 1.
Published in final edited form as: Cardiovasc Res. 2007 Jun 29;75(4):649–658. doi: 10.1016/j.cardiores.2007.06.020

Table 1.

Evidence Suggesting the Role of the Vasa Vasorum in Atherosclerosis References
Distribution
Higher vasa vasorum density in vascular beds more prone for developing atherosclerosis. 51, 105
Higher density of vasa vasorum in the proximal segments of the vessels than in the distal segments. 106
Heterogeneous distribution of atherosclerotic plaques. 29
Relationship to coronary artery disease risk factor and reversibility
Induction: Increase in vasa vasorum density in models of atherosclerosis and vascular injury. 14, 16
17, 78
Reversibility: Inhibition of vasa vasorum angiogenesis attenuates the progression of atherosclerosis. 18, 56, 57,
78, 79, 82
Relationship with cardiovascular events
Vasa vasorum neovascularization and hemorrhage contributing to plaque rupture and cardiovascular events. 107, 108,
102, 104