NEOVASCULARIZATION IN ATHERECTOMY SPECIMENS FROM PATIENTS WITH UNSTABLE ANGINA - IMPLICATIONS FOR PATHOGENESIS OF UNSTABLE ANGINA

Although neovascularization hers been noted in atherosclerotic plaque, the presence of neovascularization has not been correlated with clini cal syndromes. This study examined the relation between neovasculariza tion in atherosclerotic plaque removed during directional coronary ath erectomy and clinical status in 28 patients. Neovascularization was de termined by immunohistochemistry with endothelial cell-specific monocl onal antibodies and was found in nine (50%) of 18 specimens from patie nts with unstable angina and in only one (10%) of 10 specimens from pa tients with stable angina (p < 0.05). There was no significant relatio n between neovascularization and other clinical factors (age, sex, rac e, hypertension, diabetes, tobacco use, hypercholesterolemia, positive family history of coronary artery disease, history of myocardial infa rction, or stenosis severity). These results suggest that neovasculari zation may play a role in the pathogenesis of unstable angina.