Simple blood test unveils hidden risks of unstable coronary plaques
· Medical Xpressedited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Andrew Zinin
Gaby Clark
Scientific Editor
Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process
Andrew Zinin
Lead Editor
Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process Editors' notes
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
fact-checked
trusted source
proofread
The GIST Add as preferred source
A straightforward blood-based assessment developed at the Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan, can help assess how effectively high-density lipoprotein (HDL) removes cholesterol from blood vessel walls, a function known as cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC). The study linked low CEC to high-risk coronary plaque, supporting the broader clinical use of this method for predicting cardiovascular risk and improving preventive strategies.
Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Against this background, predicting the risk of coronary artery disease continues to be a major challenge in clinical medicine. High-density lipoprotein (HDL), also known as "good cholesterol," is traditionally associated with protection against coronary plaques. However, conventional HDL measurements do not always reflect how effectively HDL particles function in the body.
One important indicator of HDL function is cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), which measures the ability of HDL to remove excess cholesterol from cells and transport it to the liver for metabolism. However, conventional methods for measuring CEC are often complex. Addressing this, a research group led by Professor Ryunosuke Ohkawa and Professor Emeritus Minoru Tozuka from the Department of Clinical Bioanalysis and Molecular Biology, Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Japan, previously developed a simple and highly accurate method known as the immobilized liposome-bound gel beads (ILG) method, which uses ILG for CEC determination.
While the method gave promising results, its potential for use in everyday practice had yet to be determined. Now, the researchers, in collaboration with Associate Professor Taishi Yonetsu from the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Science Tokyo, together with Mr. Tsunehiro Miyakoshi, a doctoral student in the Department of Clinical Bioanalysis and Molecular Biology, Science Tokyo, analyzed samples from multiple patients to evaluate the clinical utility of the method for detecting heart disease risk. The study was published in the journal Atherosclerosis on April 2, 2026.
"We analyzed 61 patients who had undergone catheter examinations in the Department of Cardiology," explains the main author, Ohkawa.
The researchers measured CEC values from patient samples using the ILG method and compared these with plaque characteristics via optical coherence tomography, an advanced imaging technique capable of visualizing coronary artery plaques in detail.
The results revealed that patients with high-risk, large lipid-rich plaques had significantly lower CEC values, whereas those with non-large lipid-rich plaques showed higher CEC values. Additionally, higher CEC values were associated with HDL particles containing apolipoprotein E. These findings suggest that lower cholesterol removal capacity may be associated with the development of unstable plaques, which can trigger serious cardiovascular events.
"By simplifying the measurement of CEC, we aimed to make this biomarker more accessible for clinical use," notes Ohkawa.
While large lipid-rich plaques are widely recognized as vulnerable lesions capable of rupturing and triggering acute coronary syndromes, detecting these plaques in living patients without invasive procedures, such as cardiac catheterization, remains challenging. By identifying patients who show reduced HDL function with the simple ILG method, physicians can better predict future cardiovascular risk and guide preventive treatment strategies.
Although CEC has been recognized internationally as a promising biomarker, its widespread use has been limited by the complexity of existing measuring methods. The current ILG method helps overcome this barrier by enabling practical and reliable CEC testing.
In the future, the researchers hope that the ILG method may contribute to the earlier detection of coronary artery disease risk and more precise monitoring of patients after cardiovascular events.
More information
Tsunehiro Miyakoshi et al, Relationship of atherosclerotic lesion by optical coherence tomography with cholesterol efflux capacity by immobilized liposome-bound gel beads method, Atherosclerosis (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2026.120724
Key medical concepts
Clinical categories
CardiologyPreventive medicine Provided by Institute of Science Tokyo Who's behind this story?
Gaby Clark
MA in English, copy editor since 2021 with experience in higher education and health content. Dedicated to trustworthy science news. Full profile →
Andrew Zinin
Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →
Citation: Simple blood test unveils hidden risks of unstable coronary plaques (2026, June 13) retrieved 13 June 2026 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-simple-blood-unveils-hidden-unstable.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.