Recently, atherothrombosis has emerged as the leading cause of death worldwide, despite several decades' worth of efforts focusing on risk factor modification. As a result, improving understanding of atherothrombosis pathophysiology to identify opportunities to lower cardiovascular event rates and mortality is a high priority.

We now know that the majority of atherothrombotic events are associated with the rupture of vulnerable plaque; however, the factors that contribute to the progression from a stable to a rupture-prone lesion are largely unknown. Future progress in managing atherothrombosis risk, therefore, may depend on the ability to identify individuals with rupture-prone lesions in a prospective manner, and select the appropriate therapeutic interventions to prevent plaque rupture.

This symposium will focus on the latest research findings on the histology of rupture-prone lesions, invasive and noninvasive coronary imaging techniques, the potential biologic role of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂ (Lp-PLA₂) in cardiovascular risk and atherothrombosis, and the potential applications of these research findings on clinical practice today.