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. 2004 Mar;12(3):106-108, 109.

Role of plaque inflammation in acute and recurrent coronary syndromes

M Meuwissen, AC van der Wal, M Siebes, KT Koch, SAJ Chamuleau, CM van der Loos, P Teeling, RJ de Winter, HWM Niessen, JGP Tijssen, AE Becker, JJ Piek
PMCID: PMC2497049  PMID: 25696307

Abstract

Inflammation plays an important role in the initiation, development, progression and complications of atherosclerotic vascular disease. Our present knowledge of the elementary role of inflammation for the onset of plaque rupture in atherosclerotic coronary lesions primarily stems from autopsy studies. However, the introduction of directional coronary atherectomy catheters has provided a unique opportunity to directly investigate the role of inflammation in coronary syndromes. In this report we describe the role of coronary plaque inflammation, as determined by immunohistochemistry, on the presentation of coronary syndromes and on the clinical outcome following percutaneous interventions.

Keywords: coronary syndromes, C-reactive protein, inflammation, plaque, restenosis

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