Detection of cholesterol crystals in plaques and elucidation of pathological role using in vivo imaging tool

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K09557
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Cardiovascular medicine
• Research Institution: Wakayama Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Katayama Yosuke 和歌山県立医科大学, 医学部, 学内助教 (10714214)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 田中 篤 和歌山県立医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (50458072)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 急性心筋梗塞 / コレステロール結晶 / 光干渉断層法 / プラーク破裂

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we found that optical coherence tomography(OCT) has a high specificity and modest sensitivity for the detection of cholesterol crystals when compared with those achieved using histologyCholesterol crystallization invading a fibrous cap is frequently associated with plaque ruptures and subsequent acute myocardial infractions. The combination of cholesterol crystals invading fibrous cap and thin-cap fibroatheromas detected by OCT may better identify rupture-prone plaques.

Free Research Field

循環器内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の意義はコレステロール結晶が①プラーク進展・不安定化の新たなマーカーとして、②新たな治療ターゲットとして、③プラークの退縮・安定化のサロゲートマーカーとして利用できる可能性がある点である。