Plaque Erosion in Women: Underlying Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

This study focuses on unraveling the underlying mechanisms of plaque erosion in women with coronary artery disease. In contrast to plaque rupture, which occurs more frequently in men, plaque erosion in women is characterized by subtle alterations in the endothelium and vascular wall.

Using advanced imaging techniques and transcriptional analysis of vascular tissue, we investigated how hormonal regulation and immune responses contribute to these processes. Our findings demonstrate that estrogen-related signaling pathways play an important role in maintaining endothelial integrity, but under certain conditions may also contribute to vascular wall dysfunction. In addition, we identified specific inflammatory processes and immune cell activation associated with plaque erosion.

These findings provide new insights into the sex-specific pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and emphasize the importance of targeted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for women. Future research will focus on translating these mechanisms into clinical applications, with the aim of improving risk stratification and treatment for female patients with coronary artery disease.