Advances of evaluation and treatment of atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque within coronary artery

The characteristics of vulnerable plaque are thin fibrous cap,high proportional atherosclerotic core,increased plaque inflammation,and intraplaque hemorrhage.Vulnerable plaques are apt to rupture, causing platelet adhesion,platelet aggregation,and thrombosis.Vulnerable plaque rupture within coronary artery may induce acute coronary events.Intravascular ultrasounds,virtual histology,palpography,optical coherence tomography,intravascular magnetic resonance imaging,angioscopy,and spectroscopy are currently methods for detecting vulnerable plaque.Drugs,regional therapy,and stents are main strategies for treating vulnerable plaque nowadays.