Question 1

What is the Meaning of Plaque Composition?

Accepted Answer

Plaque composition refers to cellular and molecular constituents forming atherosclerotic plaques. This accumulation, involving lipids, inflammatory cells, and fibrous tissue, dictates plaque stability and clinical impact, crucial for cardiovascular risk assessment.

Question 2

What is the Context of Plaque Composition?

Accepted Answer

Within the cardiovascular system, plaque composition influences arterial health. Hormonal factors like estrogen, thyroid hormones, and insulin sensitivity modulate lipid metabolism, endothelial function, and inflammatory responses, impacting plaque development. Dysregulation in these systems promotes an atherogenic environment.

Question 3

What is the Significance of Plaque Composition?

Accepted Answer

Plaque composition's nature holds clinical significance, determining likelihood of plaque rupture and subsequent thrombotic events like myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke. Stable plaques, rich in fibrous tissue, pose less risk than vulnerable plaques, which feature a large lipid core, thin fibrous cap, and inflammation. Clinicians assess this to guide interventions.

Question 4

What is the Mechanism of Plaque Composition?

Accepted Answer

Plaque formation initiates with endothelial dysfunction, allowing low-density lipoproteins to accumulate within arterial intima. Macrophages infiltrate, engulf lipids to become foam cells, contributing to the lipid core. Smooth muscle cells migrate, proliferate, and synthesize collagen, forming a fibrous cap. Calcification can occur, affecting plaque rigidity.

Question 5

What is the Application of Plaque Composition?

Accepted Answer

Assessing plaque composition is critical for cardiovascular risk stratification and personalized treatment. Advanced imaging modalities, including intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography, characterize plaque morphology in specific arterial segments. This information guides decisions regarding lipid-lowering therapies, anti-inflammatory interventions, and revascularization, aiming to stabilize or regress plaques.

Question 6

What is the Metric of Plaque Composition?

Accepted Answer

Plaque composition characteristics are evaluated through various diagnostic modalities. Non-invasive methods like CT angiography identify calcified plaque and estimate burden. Carotid ultrasound assesses plaque presence and thickness. Detailed insights into vulnerability, such as lipid content and fibrous cap thickness, are obtained invasively via intravascular ultrasound or optical coherence tomography.

Question 7

What is the Risk of Plaque Composition?

Accepted Answer

An unfavorable plaque composition, particularly a "vulnerable plaque," presents substantial risk for acute cardiovascular events. These plaques, characterized by a large necrotic lipid core, a thin fibrous cap, and active inflammation, are prone to rupture. Such rupture exposes pro-thrombotic material, leading to thrombus formation, occluding the artery and causing myocardial infarction or stroke, threatening well-being.

Plaque Composition

Meaning

Context

Significance

Mechanism

Application

Metric

Risk

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