Acute plaque changes – Rupture, ulceration or erosion – of the surface leads to exposure of highly thrombogenic substances which causes thrombosis producing obstruction of the lumen
Hemorrhage into plaque – occurs due to rupture of the overlying fibrous plaque or blood vessels of neovascularization leading to intraplaque hemorhage producing expansion of the plaque due to hematoma
Atheroembolism – Plaque rupture release contents of atherosclerotic debris into the blood stream producing microemboli
Aneurysm formation – atherosclerosis induced pressure or ischemic atrophy of the underlying media, with loss of elastic tissue causes weakness and potential rupture
Calcification – dystrophic calcification occurs in atherosclerotic plaques
References
Vinay kumar, Abul K.Abbas, Nelson Fausto, Jon C. Aster. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic basis of disease. 8th edition.
