Modelling of coronary arteries and cardiovascular risk factors

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of cardiovascular risk facto rs on the modelling of atherosclerotic coronary arteries. One hundred conse cutive patients who underwent coronary angioplasty were studied by endocoro nary ultrasonography at the site of dilatation. At the site of the treated stenosis of the dilated arteries there was either compensatory widening or positive modelling (PM), or focal contraction or negative modelling (NM) if the total surface area (TSA) of the artery at the site of dilatation was g reater or smaller than the total surface area of the proximal or distal ref erence segments. PM was observed in 53 cases (53%) and NM in 47 cases (47%). Lesions with NM had smaller TSA (13.7 +/- 5.8 versus 20.8 +/- 6.4 mm(2). p < 0.0001) and a smaller atheromatous plaque (11.8 <plus/minus> 5.6 versus 19.1 +/- 6.5 mm( 2), p < 0.0001) than lesions with PM. Cardiovascular risk factors such as hypercholesterolaemia, smoking and hype rtension were not predictive of either form of arterial modelling and there was no relationship between the cardiovascular risk factors and the qualit ative appearances of the plaque studied.