Begona Lavin Plaza1, Alkystis Phinikaridou1, Marcelo Andia2, Silvia Lorrio Gonzalez1, and Rene Botnar1
Atherothrombosis is a systemic arterial disease
mainly involving the intima of large- and medium-sized arteries including the
carotid, aorta, coronary, and peripheral arteries. Although it has long been known that
atherosclerosis is a systemic disease, the effects of vascular
alteration distally from the site of injury and the underlying mechanisms
responsible for the systemic response have not been elucidated. In this study, we used an
albumin-binding contrast agent to assess whether (1) vascular injury in the
abdominal aorta triggers plaque progression in the brachiocephalic artery
located distally to the site of injury and (2) whether neutrophils can be the
link involved in this systemic response.
