Cholesterol Crystal Embolism in a Patient with Spontaneous Ruptured Aortic Plaques Identified by Non-Obstructive General Angioscopy

Abstract

Cholesterol crystal (CC) embolism is a disease in which CCs from atherosclerotic lesions embolize peripheral arteries, causing organ dysfunction. In this case, a patient with spontaneously ruptured aortic plaques (SRAPs) identified by non-obstructive general angioscopy (NOGA) may have developed a CC embolism. This is the first report of a CC embolism in a patient with SRAPs identified using NOGA, which further supports the previously speculated pathogenesis of CC embolism due to SRAPs.