Relationship of lumen diameter to type and degree of arterial remodeling at sites of expanding wall or plaque thickness in human carotid artery.
BACKGROUND
Arterial remodeling exhibits a bidirectional capacity. Whether lumen size affects remodeling response to lesion change is unknown.


METHODS
Prospective study by duplex ultrasonography over 2 years in 61 subjects with coronary artery disease. Direction and magnitude of vessel remodeling are calculated for internal carotid, bifurcation, and common carotid artery segments.


RESULTS
A linear trend is discernible between lumen diameter and direction and magnitude of remodeling at sites of expanding intima-media thickness (IMT) or plaque. Rate of lesion change varied inversely with lesion thickness with an inflection between rates for low-dimension IMT and plaque.


CONCLUSIONS
Dilatation versus shrinkage in the remodeling response to expanding lesions appears related to lumen size. IMT and plaque exhibit independent biologies.
Boyajian
Robert A
RA
Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, Center for Brain Research and Treatment, Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, Calif., USA.
Otis
Shirley M
SM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex