Serial intravascular ultrasound assessment of changes in coronary atherosclerotic plaque dimensions and composition: an update.

Abstract

This manuscript reviews the use of serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) examination of coronary atherosclerosis in recent observational studies and randomized trials that revealed the effects of cholesterol-lowering and lipid-modifying therapies and offered novel insight into plaque progression and regression. We discuss the value of plaque progression-regression as complementary imaging endpoint and potential surrogate marker of cardiovascular event risk. In addition, the progress in serial assessment of coronary plaque composition and plaque vulnerability by radiofrequency-based analyses is reviewed. Finally, we report on the evaluation of true vessel remodelling in recent serial IVUS trials and discuss the future perspective of serial invasive imaging of coronary atherosclerosis.

• Authors: Marc Hartmann, Jennifer Huisman, Dirk Böse, Lisette O Jensen, Paul Schoenhagen, Gary S Mintz, Raimund Erbel, Clemens von Birgelen
• Journal: European journal of echocardiography : the journal of the Working Group on Echocardiography of the European Society of Cardiology (Eur J Echocardiogr) Vol. 12 Issue 4 Pg. 313-21 (Apr 2011) ISSN: 1532-2114 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21421584 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Anticholesteremic Agents
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors

Topics

• Anticholesteremic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Coronary Artery Disease (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, pathology)
• Disease Progression
• Humans
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Plaque, Atherosclerotic (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, pathology)
• Risk Assessment
• Ultrasonography, Interventional (methods)