Identifying Biomarkers of Vascular Intraplaque Hemorrhage

Intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH), a component of late-stage atherosclerosis, is a critical factor in plaque destabilization leading to stroke and myocardial infarction. Magnetic resonance imaging is able to identify IPH and allows for identification of high-risk patients. However, no routinely available tests are conducted to identify individuals at risk of IPH.

This project focuses on identifying genetic and serum biomarkers that could identify patients at risk of developing unstable vascular disease. We hypothesize that haptoglobin genotype and sCD163 levels may be important biomarkers of presence and volume of IPH that can be measured using simple blood test and genotyping methods. These rapid and cost-effective tests may help identify at-risk populations suitable for more targeted investigation.