Incidence and clinical correlates of ruptured plaques in saphenous vein grafts: an intravascular ultrasound study.
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.
Pregowski
Jerzy
J
Cardiovascular Research Institute/Medstar Research Institute, Washington Hospital Center, 100 Irving Street NW, Washington, DC 20020, USA.
Tyczynski
Pawel
P
Mintz
Gary S
GS
Kim
Sang-Wook
SW
Witkowski
Adam
A
Waksman
Ron
R
Pichard
Augusto
A
Satler
Lowell
L
Kent
Kenneth
K
Kruk
Mariusz
M
Bieganski
Szymon
S
Ohlmann
Patrick
P
Weissman
Neil J
NJ
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