Leukocyte Telomere Length Is Associated With High-Risk Plaques on Virtual Histology Intravascular Ultrasound and Increased Proinflammatory Activity

Abstract

Shorter LTL is associated with high-risk plaque morphology on virtual histology intravascular ultrasound but not total 3-vessel plaque burden. Monocytes with disrupted telomeres show increased proinflammatory activity, which is also seen in coronary artery disease patients, suggesting that telomere shortening promotes high-risk plaque subtypes by increasing proinflammatory activity.