A candidate paradigm changing method for dissolution of coronary atherosclerotic plaques

Abstract

A CANDIDATE PARADIGM CHANGING METHOD FOR DISSOLUTION OF CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUES Biol. Onur Yolay1, Assoc. Prof. Emine Esra Kasapbasi2, Dr. Vedat Ozturk3, Dr. Erdem Tezcan4, Dr. Hasan Karaoglu5, Dr. Ceyhun Küçük5, Dr. Ceyhun Haziroglu6, Prof. Serdar Baki Albayrak7 , Prof. Ayhan Olcay7 1Technology Transfer Office, Bezmialem Vakif University, 2Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Halic University, 3Department of Mechanical Engineering, Istanbul Aydin University, 4Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Istanbul Gedik University, 5The Council of Forensic Medicine, Ministry of Justice, 6Department of Internal Medicine, Marmara University, 7Department of R&D, Innoway R&D Kft Background and Aims Postmortem studies showed that atherosclerotic plaques which are associated with coronary thrombosis, sudden death, and plaque rupture contain less fibrous tissue, thinner fibrous cap, and a larger necrotic core than stable plaques. Atherosclerotic plaque which is most frequently associated with rupture is the thin-cap fibroatheroma, where a cap of <65 μm separates a relative large necrotic core from the lumen. We experimented with different pharmaceutical solution combinations one of which was Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sodium deoxycholate (DC) compound for dissolution and reduction of necrotic core of atherosclerotic plaque in autopsy coronary specimens. Methods PC and DC compound is used for the purpose of partial lipolysis and is valued for its efficacy and lower invasiveness compared to liposuction and dermolipectomy in cosmetic applications. We obtained 10 atherosclerotic coronary artery autopsy samples for phosphatidylcholine/deoxycholate treatment. Coronary artery segments were equally divided into 2 pieces by longitudinal incision to see effect of treatment modality on same patient sample. The phosphatidylcholine/deoxycholate mixture solution was applied to treatment arm of 10 autopsy specimens while control arm was treated in a liquid of 0.9% benzyl alcohol only. Treatment and control tissue pieces were kept in solutions for 10 minutes, then washed with distilled water and cleaned. Results We microscopically observed that plaque cores in atherosclerotic plaques were completely dissolved without damaging surrounding cells or tissue structure in all 10 samples (Figure 1,2). When the microscopic examination of the samples with and without phosphatidylcholine/deoxycholate application was compared, it was observed that the lipid containing atherosclerotic plaque core part was fragmented. Microscopic images showed that application of phosphatidylcholine/deoxycholate, which dissolves the unwanted subintimal lipid accumulation, did not damage the tissue structure. Conclusions: Microscopic atherosclerotic plaque staining allowed observation of the structural features of the tissues with and without phosphatidylcholine/deoxycholate application. Subintimal fat accumulation was dissolved in treatment arm. Microscopic images have also shown that phosphatidylcholine/deoxycholate application does not disrupt the structure of the tissues while dissolving the fat deposit.