This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Protective mechanism

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

It is hypothesised that there are two types of atherosclerotic lesions:

  • atherotic:
    • soft, lipid rich
    • there is often inflammation which destabilises the plaque's fibrous cap
    • the risk of plaque rupture makes these dangerous

  • sclerotic:
    • hard, collagen-rich
    • these are safe

The statin family of drugs alters the characteristics of the lipid core and reduces inflammation. The fibrous cap is stabilised preventing rupture. The total volume of the plaque may remain unchanged.

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.