Decreased smooth muscle cell/extracellular matrix ratio of media of femoral artery in patients with atherosclerosis and hyperhomocysteinemia

The aim of this study was to determine whether the morphology of the muscul ar femoral artery in patients with atherosclerosis and hyperhomocysteinemia differs from that of atherosclerotic vessels from patients with normal hom ocysteine levels. Whole-vessel biopsies of the superficial femoral artery w ere taken from patients with symptomatic atherosclerotic disease with and w ithout hyperhomocysteinemia and from patients without atherosclerosis from traumatic amputations. The morphology of these specimens was studied qualit atively by light and electron microscopy and quantitatively by light micros copy in combination with a video overlay system. Atherosclerotic lesions in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia were morphologically similar to those i n patients with normal homocysteine levels, except for a significantly decr eased smooth muscle cell/extracellular matrix ratio of the media in hyperho mocysteinemic patients (P=0.02 versus normohomocysteinemic atherosclerotic group and P=0.001 versus group without a history of cardiovascular disease) . Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated With a significant decrease of the smo oth muscle cell/extracellular matrix ratio of the media of muscular femoral arteries without significant changes in medial thickness. Further investig ations should concentrate on the cause of this newly discovered phenomenon and its impact on vascular compliance.