Posted by Cindy J. Fuller, Ph.D., R.D.

In Reply to: Atherosclerotic plaque is actually composed of different layers posted by Rick

I've got to correct your conception of atherogenesis. The first phase of
atherosclerosis is the fatty streak, which is composed of foam cells.
These cells have consumed so much lipid that they die within the
subendothelial space (just below the inner surface) of the arteries.
Several studies have shown evidence of fatty streaks without calcification
in the arteries of US children. The second stage is a fibrous plaque,
which can undergo changes such as calcification, necrosis (cell death),
hemorrhage, ulceration, or thrombosis (formation of a blood clot). It's
when something like hemorrhage or thrombosis occurs that a person has a
heart attack, stroke, whatever. This progression has been confirmed by
numerous animal and autopsy studies for 40 years.

Cindy J. Fuller, Ph.D., R.D.

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