[From risk factors of arterial disease to atheroma plaque detection of the high-risk plaque].

The atherosclerosis is a pathologic phenomena which is caracterized by the stiffnes and enlargement of the arterial walls due to the deposit of lipid carbohidrates, blood products and calcium into the subendothelial space. The risk factors of arterial diseases makes their impact in all arteries of the human body. It is clear to day that the composition of the plaque, is the major determinant for its risk of rupture and for its logic consequence: thrombosis. Following plaque rupture, lipidic core and its high content of factors, gives a powerful substrate for the activation of the coagulation cascade. It has been significant advances in the comprehension of the mechanism involved in the development of this disease and there is a large number of evidences that the composition of the plaque is a major determinant factor in the beginning and in the severity of the acute coronary syndrome. In consequence, the capacity to identify the above mentioned composition, monitoring its progression, are valuable information for the development of acute coronary syndrome. The conventional angiocoronariography fails to predict acute episodes, in such a way that it has lost the value as a gold standard for the detection of this syndrome and this failing promotes researchers to develop new methods, invasive and non-invasive to recognize the higly risk atherosclerotic plaque and the sick areas for ideal and rapid interventions.