Annals of medicine
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Review
Role of lipids and intraplaque hypoxia in the formation of neovascularization in atherosclerosis.
According to the current paradigm, chronic vascular inflammation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The plaque progression is typically completed with rupture and subsequent acute cardiovascular complications. Previously, the role of adventitial vasa vasorum in atherogenesis was underestimated. ⋯ KEY MESSAGE Neovascularization plays an important role in atherosclerosis, being involved in unstable plaque formation. Presence of neovascularization and haemorrhage indicates plaque instability and risk of rupture. Various imaging techniques are available to study neovascularization.