CCTA Coronary Hemodynamics, Systemic Inflammation and Vulnerable Plaques (COHESIVE)

"* 2D transthoracic echocardiography~* 128-multislice CT coronary angiography with the evaluation of: epicardial fat volume, plaque burden, total and local calcium score, markers for lesion severity; morphological plaque characteristics; plaque components evaluated via volumetric and planimetric units; markers of plaque vulnerability (necrotic core, low attenuation plaque, spotty calcification, napkin ring sign, positive remodeling).~* Shear stress evaluation via computational fluid dynamics."

Venous blood sample collection during CCTA image acquisition for evaluation of serum levels of hsCRP, IL-6, matrix metalloproteases - MMP9, Adhesion molecules (VCAM, ICAM, e-selectin, p-selectin) periostin.