Arterial plaque

LDL Cholesterol and inflammation
Cholesterol Crystals Incite Inflammation in Coronary Arteries, Research Finds

"biomarker called NLRP3 that induces inflammation... activated by the crystals could be a better indicator of potential cardiovascular disease than others, such as serum cholesterol, or the amount of cholesterol found in the bloodstream."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100518170034.htm