Intravascular Ultrasound Derived Virtual Histology and Intracoronary Serum Markers of Inflammation

Patients enrolled will need treated with an IVUS- VH (intravascular ultrasound-derived virtual histology) which is an arterial stent procedure, that involves threading a tiny wire into the artery, followed by a balloon, a stent, or other device to treat a blocked artery, and often (though not always), a special ultrasound catheter to take pictures of the inside of the artery. Participants in the study, will have an additional procedure performed: a tiny tube will be advanced into the heart artery to collect a blood sample for research purposes, and a blood sample will be collected from the femoral (thigh) artery through the tube that will be placed there as a standard part of having this procedure. The blood that is collected will be analyzed for markers of inflammation or irritation in the blood (c-reactive protein, myeloperoxidase, Monocyte chemotactic protein-1), as well and a gene called Matrix Metallopeptidase 3, which is believe to influence the progression of plaque on the walls of arteries and the progression of coronary artery disease. .