title: Long-term safety of intravascular ultrasound in nontransplant, nonintervened, atherosclerotic coronary arteries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to demonstrate that intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) examination of native coronary arteries does not result in an acceleration of the atherosclerotic process.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Intravascular ultrasound is increasingly used to assess the effects of pharmacologic agents on atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intravascular ultrasound examinations of one coronary artery and coronary angiography were performed in 525 patients at baseline. Patients then underwent a follow-up angiogram 18 to 24 months later. All end points were evaluated in IVUS-related and non-IVUS arteries using quantitative coronary analysis. The study end points were the coronary change score (per-patient mean of minimum lumen diameter changes for all lesions measured), occurrence of new coronary lesions, and progression of preexistent lesions at follow-up. Acute angiographic and clinical complications were also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Coronary change score was -0.06 +/- 0.23 mm and -0.05 +/- 0.21 mm for IVUS-related and non-IVUS arteries, respectively (p = 0.35). The increase in percent diameter stenosis from baseline to follow-up was 0.8 +/- 6.7% and 1.2 +/- 7.0% in the IVUS-related and non-IVUS arteries (p = 0.29). New lesions occurred in 3.6% and 3.9% of IVUS-related and non-IVUS arteries, respectively (p = 0.84). When all coronary lesions were considered, the incidence of lesion progression was not significantly different between IVUS-related (11.6%) and non-IVUS (9.8%) arteries. Coronary spasm occurred in 1.9% of IVUS procedures, and there was one case of acute occlusion with no long-term sequelae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravascular ultrasound does not significantly accelerate atherosclerosis in native coronary arteries and can be used safely to assess progression/regression in clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guédès
authors.forename: Pierre-Frédéric
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Philippe L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: L'Allier
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lespérance
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grégoire
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tardif
mesh_terms: D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012449:Safety; D013997:Time Factors; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional