Near-infrared spectroscopic characterization of human advanced atherosclerotic plaques.

Unlabelled: OBJECTIVES; Living human carotid atherosclerotic plaques were examined in vitro by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to determine the spectral features of plaque vulnerability.

Background: Plaque disruption, a major cause of heart attacks and strokes, cannot generally be predicted, but is thought to depend mainly on plaque composition. Near-infrared spectroscopy has been used to detect components in tissues noninvasively.