Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39995516›Full record

ArticleAmerican heart journal plus : cardiology research and practice2025

Hypothesis on the role of cholesterol crystals in spontaneously ruptured aortic plaques: Potential triggers for inflammation and systemic effects.

Chikao Yutani, Hirotaka Noda, Nobuzo Iwa, Sei Komatsu, Satoru Takahashi, Yoshiharu Higuchi, Kazuhisa Kodama

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in American heart journal plus : cardiology research and practice, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Editorial for the Special Issue on Cholesterol Crystal Embolization.American heart journal plus : cardiology research and practice · 2026
    Article
  2. Cholesterol crystal embolization syndrome: Systemic and end-organ injury.American heart journal plus : cardiology research and practice · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Chikao YutaniDivision of Pathology, Cardiovascular Center, Osaka Gyoumeikan Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
Hirotaka NodaDepartment of Medical Technology, Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences, Osaka, Japan.
Nobuzo IwaDivision of Pathology, Cardiovascular Center, Osaka Gyoumeikan Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
Sei KomatsuNon-Profit Organization Japan Vascular Imaging Research Organization, Osaka, Japan.
Satoru TakahashiDepartment of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Osaka Gyoumeikan Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
Yoshiharu HiguchiNon-Profit Organization Japan Vascular Imaging Research Organization, Osaka, Japan.
Kazuhisa KodamaNon-Profit Organization Japan Vascular Imaging Research Organization, Osaka, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cholesterol crystals (CCs) are a key component of atherosclerotic plaques and play a pivotal role in plaque progression, rupture, and the resulting inflammatory responses. CCs emboli trigger proinflammatory cytokines which can potentially lead to organ damage. Spontaneously ruptured aortic plaques (SRAPs) are frequently observed via non-obstructive general angioscopy (NOGA) in patients with or suspected coronary artery disease. The release of CCs from SRAPs can activate the innate immune system and induce neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, further exacerbating inflammation. Inflammation levels in SRAPs vary, and the interleukin (IL)-6 ratio may reflect the degree of inflammation. Systemic inflammation induced by CCs may contribute to conditions that may lead to cerebral infarction, and chronic kidney disease. The effects of anti-inflammatory drugs, including IL-6 inhibitors, IL-1β inhibitors, and colchicine, may be evaluated by measuring the IL-6 ratio in SRAPs. This review examined innate immunity mechanisms associated with CCs in SRAPs sampled via NOGA and discussed their systemic impact and potential therapeutic strategies.

Indexed as

AngioscopyAortaCholesterol crystalsInnate immunitySpontaneous ruptured aortic plaque

Identifiers

PMID39995516
PMCPMC11847121

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.