INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND PALPOGRAPHY: A NEW METHOD FOR THE DETECTION OF THE VULNERABLE PLAQUE

Acute coronary syndromes originate from atherosclerotic plaque rupture and subsequent developement of coronary thrombosis. Available screening and diagnostic methods are insufficient to identify the atherosclerotic plaques that will rupture and precipitate the coronary event. We developed a new intracoronary diagnostic method based on intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) examination to evaluate the local mechanical properties of atherosclerotic plaques namely IVUS-elastography/palpography. The relationships between local strain, histological features of vulnerability, clinical presentation, and clinical markers of instability were assessed.