Objective To explore the value of 64-slice computed tomographycoronary angiography(64-CTA)in detecting the coronary artery plaque and to analyze the risk factorsfor vulnerableplaque. Methods A total of l12 inpatients who had been diagnosed as coronary arterydisease by catheter coronary angiography(CAG) received64-CTA. The levels of serum endothelin-1(ET-1), matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9), interleukin6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-a(TNF-a)and highsensitivity C-reactive protein(hsCRP)were measured．The effect of 64-CTA indetecting the coronary artery plaque was evaluated as compared with CAG. The patients were dividedinto vulnerable plaque group(n=51)and non-vulnerable plaquegroup(n=61)according to the CT value of theplaque. The differences of the indexes between two groups and therisk factors for vulnerable plaque were analyzed. Results The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive valueof 64-CTA in detecting coronary artery plaque were88.6％, 89.2％, 84.1％ and 92.3％respectively. There were significant differences between vulnerable plaque group and non- vulnerable plaque group in MMP-9, IL-6, Hs-CRP, the number of coronary lesions and the composition ratios of gender, diagnosis and diabetes. Logistic regression analysis showed that MMP-9>5.231 ng/L(P=0.0215, OR=2.33, 95%CI 1.13-4.79), hs-CRP>3.583 mg/L(P=0.0008, 0R=4.32, 95%CI 1.84-10.15) and unstable angina pectoris(P=0.0339, 0R=4.33, 95%CI 1.12-16.77)were the risk factors for vulnerable plaque. Conclusion 64-CTA is one of most reliable noninvasive methods to detect coronary plaques. MMP-9, hs-CRP and unstable angina pectoris are independent risk factors forvulnerable plaque．