中文摘要：

Introduction Stroke or heart attack,the leading cause of death and disability worldwide,is usually caused by rupture of atheromatous plaque.Therefore,the identification of vulnerable atheroma pre rupture has become extremely important for patient risk stratification.Previous studies have shown that the vulnerable plaque,i.e.one that is prone to rupture with thromboembolic complications,is often associated with a thin fibrous cap,a large lipid core and a high inflammatory burden.The mechanism of plaque rupture is not entirely clear but is thought to be a multi-factorial process involving thinning and weakening of the fibrous cap by enzymes secreted by activa-

英文摘要：

Introduction Stroke or heart attack,the leading cause of death and disability worldwide,is usually caused by rupture of atheromatous plaque.Therefore,the identification of vulnerable atheroma pre rupture has become extremely important for patient risk stratification.Previous studies have shown that the vulnerable plaque,i.e.one that is prone to rupture with thromboembolic complications,is often associated with a thin fibrous cap,a large lipid core and a high inflammatory burden.The mechanism of plaque rupture is not entirely clear but is thought to be a multi-factorial process involving thinning and weakening of the fibrous cap by enzymes secreted by activa-