The Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque: Strategies for Diagnosis and Management

Abstract

Renu Virmani, Jagat Narula, Martin B. Leon, James T. Willerson, eds 375 pages. Malden, MA: Blackwell Futura; 2007. $174.95. ISBN 1–40515–859–X The term “vulnerable plaque” was coined in 1989 by Dr. James E. Muller to describe nonobstructive atherosclerotic plaques that were prone to rupture, leading to acute clinical syndromes. This term has evolved over the ensuing 2 decades and is now often called the “high risk plaque.” Many investigators argue that atherosclerosis is a systemic problem and therefore the proper terminology should be the “vulnerable patient.” Regardless of semantics, identification of the vulnerable plaque has significant implications for clinical care. Novel therapies to pacify plaques, both medical and interventional, are under development and an enhanced understanding both of the risk factors and methodologies used to recognize unstable plaques are poised to advance the field of cardiovascular medicine. The Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque: Strategies for Diagnosis and Management reviews our understanding of the vulnerable plaque from a broad perspective, including its pathology, potential triggers, diagnostic techniques, and management, in a well-organized manner that progresses from topic to topic quite logically. The book successfully minimizes overlap between chapters. Clinical and basic information is well-integrated and the authors who contributed to the work are outstanding. …