G. Pasterkamp et al., RELATION OF ARTERIAL GEOMETRY TO LUMINAL NARROWING AND HISTOLOGIC MARKERS FOR PLAQUE VULNERABILITY - THE REMODELING PARADOX, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 32(3), 1998, pp. 655-662
Objective. To relate local arterial geometry with markers that are tho
ught to be related to plaque rupture. Background. Plaque rupture often
occurs at sites with minor luminal stenosis and has retrospectively b
een characterized by colocalization of inflammatory cells. Recent stud
ies have demonstrated that luminal narrowing is related with the mode
of atherosclerotic arterial remodeling. Methods. We obtained 1,521 cro
ss section slices at regular intervals from 50 atherosclerotic femoral
arteries. Per artery, the slices with the largest and smallest lumen
area, vessel area and plaque area were selected for staining on the pr
esence of macrophages (CD68), T-lymphocytes (CD45RO), smooth muscle ce
lls (alpha-actin) and collagen. Results. Inflammation of the cap or sh
oulder of the plaque was observed in 33% of all cross sections. Signif
icantly more CD68 and CD45RO positive cells, more atheroma, less colla
gen and less alpha-actin positive staining was observed in cross secti
ons with the largest plaque area and largest vessel area vs. cross sec
tions with the smallest plaque area and smallest vessel area, respecti
vely. No difference in the number of inflammatory cells was observed b
etween cross sections,vith the largest and smallest lumen area. Conclu
sion. Intraindividually, pathohistologic markers previously reported t
o be related to plaque vulnerability were associated,vith a larger pla
que area and vessel area. In addition, inflammation of the cap and sho
ulder of the plaque was a common finding in the atherosclerotic femora
l artery. (J Am Coil Cardiol 1998;32:655-62) (C) 1998 by the American
College of Cardiology.