Silent plaque ruptures in non-obstructive lesions of non-infarct-related arteries: a multimodality, serial intracoronary imaging study
European Heart Journal
Among patients with acute myocardial infarction, the presence of silent plaques in coronary arteries other than the infarct-related arteriy (IRA) and their risk of silent ruptures is not well understood.
In this intracoronary imaging study, the frequency, characteristics and morphological changes of plaque rupture in non-IRA were assessed. The study reports that plaque rupture in non-IRAs was present in 12% of patients. Features associated with plaque rupture were plaque volume, positive remodeling, and thinner fibrous cap.
These findings highlight the importance on intracoronary imaging, also of non-IRAs, in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
