Microvasculature of carotid atheromatous plaques: hemorrhagic plaques have dense microvessels with fenestrations to the arterial lumen.

Background: Microvessels in atheromatous plaques are well known to play a role in plaque vulnerability associated with intraplaque hemorrhage, but their architecture remains unclear. The morphometry of the microvasculature and hemorrhage of human carotid atheromatous plaques (CAPs) were evaluated, and 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the microvessels was performed.

Methods: CAPs were obtained by endarterectomy in 42 patients.