Pathology of the Vulnerable Plaque

The majority of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) present with unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, and sudden coronary death. The most common cause of coronary thrombosis is plaque rupture followed by plaque erosion, whereas calcified nodule is infrequent. If advances in coronary disease are to occur, it is important to recognize the precursor lesion of ACS. Of the three types of coronary thrombosis, a precursor lesion for acute rupture has been postulated. The non-thrombosed lesion that most resembles the acute plaque rupture is the thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA), which is characterized by a necrotic core with an overlying fibrous cap measuring 50 years, and in those patients with elevated high levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein. It has only recently been recognized that their identification in living patients might help reduce the incidence of sudden coronary death.