Vulnerable Plaque
Authors: Iftikhar J. Kullo, William D. Edwards, Robert S. Schwartz
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1999)

Letters7 September 1999Vulnerable PlaqueIftikhar J. Kullo, MD, William D. Edwards, MD, and Robert S. Schwartz, MDIftikhar J. Kullo, MDMayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation; Rochester, MN 55905 (Kullo)Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation; Rochester, MN 55905 (Edwards)Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation; Rochester, MN 55905 (Schwartz)Search for more papers by this author, William D. Edwards, MDMayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation; Rochester, MN 55905 (Kullo)Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation; Rochester, MN 55905 (Edwards)Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation; Rochester, MN 55905 (Schwartz)Search for more papers by this author, and Robert S. Schwartz, MDMayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation; Rochester, MN 55905 (Kullo)Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation; Rochester, MN 55905 (Edwards)Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation; Rochester, MN 55905 (Schwartz)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-131-5-199909070-00018 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Krishnaswamy and colleagues outline several mechanisms by which mast cells might contribute to plaque inflammation and rupture. Further work is needed to establish a direct role for mast cells in plaque instability. The hypothesis that plaque behavior could be favorably altered by preventing mast-cell degranulation or by inhibiting mast-cell proteases is intriguing but as yet unproven. Drs. Doherty and McMillen point out the several proatherogenic properties of endothelin-1. The work by Zeiher and coworkers (1) suggests that endothelin-1 is involved in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes. However, evidence for endothelin-1 as an important determinant of plaque vulnerability ...References1. Zeiher AM, Goebel H, Schachinger V, Ihling C. Tissue endothelin-1 immunoreactivity in the active coronary atherosclerotic plaque. A clue to the mechanism of increased vasoreactivity of the culprit lesion in unstable angina. Circulation. 1995;91:941-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Hollander W, Kramsch DM, Franzblau C, Paddock J, Colombo MA. Suppression of atheromatous fibrous plaque formation by antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory drugs. Circ Res. 1974;34-35 Suppl 1 131-41. Google Scholar3. Lee WM, Morrison ES, Scott RF, Lee KT, Kroms M. Effects of methyl prednisolone and colchicine on the development of aortic atherosclerosis in swine. Atherosclerosis. 1976;25:213-24. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Wesley RB, Meng X, Godin D, Galis ZS. Extracellular matrix modulates macrophage functions characteristic to atheroma: collagen type I enhances acquisition of resident macrophage traits by human peripheral blood monocytes in vitro. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 1998;18:432-40. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Entzian P, Schlaak M, Seitzer U, Bufe A, Acil Y, Zabel P. Antiinflammatory and antifibrotic properties of colchicine: implications for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Lung. 1997;175:41-51. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Iftikhar J. Kullo, MD; William D. Edwards, MD; Robert S. Schwartz, MDAffiliations: Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation; Rochester, MN 55905 (Kullo)Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation; Rochester, MN 55905 (Edwards)Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation; Rochester, MN 55905 (Schwartz) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoVulnerable Plaque: Pathobiology and Clinical Implications Iftikhar J. Kullo , William D. Edwards , and Robert S. Schwartz Vulnerable Plaque Guha Krishnaswamy , David S. Chi , and Jim Kelley Vulnerable Plaque James C. Doherty and Marvin A. McMillen Vulnerable Plaque Lanfranco de' Clari Metrics 7 September 1999Volume 131, Issue 5Page: 393-394KeywordsAnimal modelsAtheromasAtherosclerosisBehaviorColchicineMast cellsPathogenesisProteasesRabbitsSwine ePublished: 15 August 2000 Issue Published: 7 September 1999 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1999 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...