Microvascular endoglin (CD105) expression correlates with tissue markers for atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability in an ageing population with multivessel coronary artery disease

Abstract

Plaque inflammation and haemorrhages can be found at a high frequency throughout the coronary artery system of elderly patients with multivessel coronary atherosclerosis. Microvascular expression of endoglin (CD105), which correlates positively with both of these features of plaque vulnerability, can serve as a marker of the risk of developing coronary thrombotic complications.