Relationship of Lumen Diameter to Type and Degree of Arterial Remodeling at Sites of Expanding Wall or Plaque Thickness in Human Carotid Artery.

摘要

BACKGROUND: Arterial remodeling exhibits a bidirectional capacity. Whether lumen size affects remodeling response to lesion change is unknown. METHODS: Prospective study by duplex ultrasonography over 2 years in 61 subjects with coronary artery disease. Direction and magnitude of vessel remodeling are calculated for internal carotid, bifurcation, and common carotid artery segments. RESULTS: A linear trend is discernible between lumen diameter and direction and magnitude of remodeling at sites of expanding intima-media thickness (IMT) or plaque. Rate of lesion change varied inversely with lesion thickness with an inflection between rates for low-dimension IMT and plaque. CONCLUSIONS: Dilatation versus shrinkage in the remodeling response to expanding lesions appears related to lumen size. IMT and plaque exhibit independent biologies. Copyright 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel