The high-risk plaque initiative: primary prevention of atherothrombotic events in the asymptomatic population

Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2011 Oct;13(5):359-66. doi: 10.1007/s11883-011-0193-0.

Abstract

The High-Risk Plaque (HRP) Initiative is a research and development effort to advance the understanding, recognition, and management of asymptomatic individuals at risk for a near-term atherothrombotic event such as myocardial infarction or stroke. Clinical studies using the newest technologies have been initiated, including the BioImage Study in which novel approaches are tested in a typical health plan population. Asymptomatic at-risk individuals were enrolled, including a survey-only group (n = 865), a group undergoing traditional risk factor scoring (n = 718), and a group in which all were assessed for both risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis (n = 6104). The latter two groups underwent baseline examination in a dedicated mobile facility equipped with advanced imaging tools suitable for noninvasive screening for subclinical atherosclerosis (coronary artery calcium by computed tomography [CT], carotid and aortic disease by ultrasound, and ankle-brachial index). Selected participants were offered advanced imaging (contrast-enhanced CT, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography/CT). Plasma, PAXgene RNA, and DNA samples were obtained for biomarker discovery studies. All individuals will be followed until 600 major atherothrombotic events have occurred in those undergoing imaging.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Atherosclerosis / complications
  • Atherosclerosis / diagnosis*
  • Atherosclerosis / epidemiology
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Managed Care Programs
  • Mass Screening
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / epidemiology
  • Myocardial Infarction / etiology
  • Myocardial Infarction / prevention & control*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Primary Prevention*
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment / methods*
  • Risk Factors
  • Stroke / epidemiology
  • Stroke / etiology
  • Stroke / prevention & control*
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Biomarkers