Overview of Atherosclerotic Plaque: From Formation to Complication

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a serious worldwide health problem. The pathogenesis of this disease is complex and includes a multilevel interaction of such processes as inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, mitochondrial dysfunction, and multiple modifications of lipid particles. With the increase in life expectancy, mankind is more and more often faced with the unpleasant consequences of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a precursor to serious health concerns, including cardiovascular disease, leading to disability and even death. Thrombosis is one of the possible complications of atherosclerosis. The cause of atherothrombosis is the rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque and subsequent aggregation of platelets. In this place, a blood clot forms, which in a short time completely blocks the blood flow through the vessel. Sometimes pieces of plaque break off and travel through the arteries with the blood flow. If such a blood clot, which is a piece of plaque, gets stuck in a vessel and blocks blood flow, for example, in a heart muscle, it can cause angina pectoris and myocardial infarction. In this review, we have collected a detailed description of the processes of atherogenesis from the very beginning to the immediate formation of a thrombus. To collect the relevant data, we searched the PubMed database, paying special attention to the systematic reviews and in vivo studies. All researches considering cardiovascular diseases have to be ethically performed, which implies patient consent and animal studies ethics.