New imaging method finds most dangerous plaque in arteries

Heart specialists know that deposits of fat and cholesterol in arteries -- material known as plaque -- can rupture and cause heart attacks. But they also know that not all plaque is the same: Some forms are more likely to rupture than others. Now, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have found a way to take a high-tech snapshot of plaque that allows them to distinguish between dangerous and not-so-dangerous forms. The cardiovascular scientists used something called optical coherence tomography to evaluate plaque in different kinds of heart patients. They found that patients who had recently suffered heart attacks were significantly more likely to have rupture-prone plaque than those heart patients who had less dangerous conditions, such as angina. Their findings appeared last week in the online edition of the medical journal Circulation, and the researchers said the imaging technology could one day aid heart specialists in better determining the right treatment for the right patients.

STEPHEN SMITH