Positive Remodeling as a Biomarker of Plaque Vulnerability — at the Border Between Invasive and Noninvasive Assessment

Abstract

Since the introduction of the new concepts of plaque vulnerability and patient vulnerability, many researchers have focused on different biomarkers that can represent predictors for coronary plaque instability. One of the features that characterize the vulnerable coronary plaque is positive remodeling, which can be easily identified by computed tomography angiography, a noninvasive procedure, or by other invasive methods such as intravascular ultrasound. This review aims to describe the assessment of positive remodeling as a marker of coronary plaque instability and the differences between computed tomography angiography and intravascular ultrasound in investigating this new biomarker.

Keywords

• computed tomography angiography
• intravascular ultrasound
• positive remodeling
• vulnerable plaque