INTERNAL THORACIC ARTERY - PREVALENCE OF ATHEROSCLEROTIC CHANGES

Use of the internal thoracic artery for myocardial revascularization h as regained general acceptance because it offers better long-term resu lts than do venous conduits. Tle aim of this study was to ascertain th e prevalence of atherosclerosis in the internal thoracic artery and to correlate the prevalence with other known risk factors. A total of 11 7 patients (male/female ratio 84:33; mean age 56.8 years) were investi gated. Sixty-eight patients had coronary artery disease, 25 had combin ed coronary artery and valvular heart disease, 14 had acquired valvula r heart disease, and 10 had other types of heart disease. All but one patient underwent bilateral semiselective internal thoracic arteriogra phy. Evidence of atherosclerotic change was present in 6.6 % of the op acified vessels in 11.1 % of the investigated individuals. Although al l patients with atherosclerotic lesions in the internal thoracic arter y had coronary artery disease, no correlation could be found between c oronary artery disease and internal thoracic atherosclerosis. Peripher al vascular disease and hyperlipidemia could be identified as predicto rs of atherosclerotic changes in the internal thoracic artery. Atheros clerosis is somewhat more prevalent in the internal thoracic artery in this study than in the literature. Although the internal thoracic art ery is a protected vessel, there is a certain extent of atherosclerosi s, that correlates with known risk factors. Our observations should no t preclude use of the internal thoracic artery, but they should be con sidered for patients who are at risk for atherosclerotic changes of th e internal thoracic artery.