title: Incidence and clinical correlates of ruptured plaques in saphenous vein grafts: an intravascular ultrasound study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to assess the incidence, clinical correlates, and angiographic appearance of ruptured atherosclerotic plaques detected in saphenous vein grafts (SVGs).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Ruptured atherosclerotic plaques in native coronary arteries but not in SVGs have been well described with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed 791 pre-intervention IVUS SVG studies and identified 95 ruptured plaques in 76 SVGs in 73 patients. Standard clinical, angiographic, and IVUS measurements were collected and/or measured. Ruptured plaques were compared with nonruptured plaques in 276 randomly selected patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IVUS-detected ruptured plaques had angiographically complex morphology (95%) with ulceration (79%), intimal flap (71%), and sometimes aneurysm formation (14%). Compared with control SVG lesions, ruptured plaques occurred more often in patients with acute coronary syndromes, in older SVGs (12.3 +/- 5.0 years vs. 8.6 +/- 5.2 years, p < 0.001), and in patients with hypercholesterolemia (92% vs. 81%, p = 0.021) and hypertension (78% vs. 63%, p = 0.015). Multiple ruptured plaques were identified in 22 patients in 19 grafts, more often in diabetic patients (55% vs. 29%, p = 0.054). A tear in the fibrous cap could be identified in 59% of plaques; in 70% it occurred at the shoulder of the plaque and in 30% at the center of the plaque. The IVUS features of ruptured plaques included positive remodeling in 71%, which was more common than in control plaques (40%, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ruptured atherosclerotic plaques occur in old SVGs with an incidence of 9.7%. These lesions have a complex angiographic appearance and positive remodeling characteristics. This is similar to ruptured plaques in native arteries.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute/Medstar Research Institute, Washington Hospital Center, 100 Irving Street NW, Washington, DC 20020, USA.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pregowski
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tyczynski
authors.forename: Gary S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Mintz
authors.forename: Sang-Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Witkowski
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Waksman
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pichard
authors.forename: Lowell
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Satler
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kruk
authors.forename: Szymon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bieganski
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ohlmann
authors.forename: Neil J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Weissman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000637:transplantation; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional