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Review
. 2020 May;287(5):493-513.
doi: 10.1111/joim.13034. Epub 2020 Mar 3.

Exploring the role of extracellular matrix proteins to develop biomarkers of plaque vulnerability and outcome

S Holm Nielsen  1   2 , L Jonasson  3 , K Kalogeropoulos  2 , M A Karsdal  1 , A L Reese-Petersen  1 , U Auf dem Keller  2 , F Genovese  1 , J Nilsson  4 , I Goncalves  4   5
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Free article
Review

Exploring the role of extracellular matrix proteins to develop biomarkers of plaque vulnerability and outcome

S Holm Nielsen et al. J Intern Med. 2020 May.
Free article

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death in industrialized countries. One underlying cause is atherosclerosis, which is a systemic disease characterized by plaques of retained lipids, inflammatory cells, apoptotic cells, calcium and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the arterial wall. The biologic composition of an atherosclerotic plaque determines whether the plaque is more or less vulnerable, that is prone to rupture or erosion. Here, the ECM and tissue repair play an important role in plaque stability, vulnerability and progression. This review will focus on ECM remodelling in atherosclerotic plaques, with focus on how ECM biomarkers might predict plaque vulnerability and outcome.

Keywords: atherosclerosis; biomarkers; extracellular matrix; outcome; vulnerable plaque.

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References

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