Intravascular ultrasonic evidence by constant cross-sectional area of atherosclerotic plaques during coronary vasomotion in humans

• Published in: European heart journal Vol. 18; no. 6; pp. 949 - 953
• Main Authors: Matsu-ura, Y., Kijima, Y., Hashimura, K., Kato, Y., Ueda, T., Yasuda, T., Mori, I., Hoshida, S., Hori, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.06.1997
• Subjects: Acetylcholine - administration & dosage; Adult; Aged; atherosclerosis; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Chest Pain - diagnostic imaging; Chest Pain - physiopathology; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnostic imaging; Coronary Artery Disease - pathology; Coronary heart disease; Coronary Vessels - diagnostic imaging; Coronary Vessels - pathology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; geometric theory; Heart; Humans; Intravascular ultrasound; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Probability; Reference Values; Ultrasonography, Interventional - methods; Vasoconstriction - physiology; Vasodilation - physiology; vasospastic angina; Sonography; Human; Coronary artery; Cardiovascular disease; Exploration; Endovascular route; Angina pectoris; Coronary heart disease; Vascular disease; Atherosclerotic plaque; Atherosclerosis; Echography; Vasospasm; Acetylcholine; Provocation test
• ISSN: 0195-668X; 1522-9645
• DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.eurheartj.a015383

Aims This study aims to visualize ultrasonically deformation of atherosclerotic plaques in human coronary arteries during vasoconstriction and vasodilatation. Methods and results Intravascular ultrasound detected occult atherosclerosis in angiographically normal coronary arteries of eight patients with chest pain at rest. During the acetylcholine provocative test, intravascular ultrasound monitored deformation of the atherosclerotic plaques. At the last step of the test, intracoronary injection of isosorbide dinitrate caused vasodilation. Under control, acetylcholine-treated, and isosorbide dinitrate-treated conditions, cross-sectional areas of sonolucent circle and vessel lumen were measured. Subtraction of the latter from the former gave the area of atherosclerotic plaque. In the process of vasoconstriction and vasodilation, the plaque area did not change significantly. Conclusion The cross-sectional area of the atherosclerotic plaque appeared to be constant during vasomotion of human coronary arteries.