title: Atherosclerosis of radial and internal thoracic arteries used in coronary bypass: atherosclerosis in arterial grafts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to evaluate the degree and incidence of atherosclerosis in internal thoracic (ITA) and radial arteries (RA) harvested for coronary bypass grafting.
  
  
  METHODS
  The association of major clinical events and etiological factors for atherosclerosis was investigated in 770 arterial segments obtained prospectively from 480 patients. Potential risk factors for atherosclerosis were age, gender, smoking, diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, chronic renal failure, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, hypertension, and a positive family history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six types of histological lesions have been defined; grade III or more was present in the RA in 47 (16%) patients and in the ITA in 30 (7%). The mean grade was 1.6 +/- 0.6 in the ITA and 2.1 +/- 0.9 in the RA (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RA had a significantly greater prevalence of atherosclerosis than the same patients' ITA. There was a strong correlation between ITA atherosclerosis and age. The presence of calcification may lead surgeons to avoid an extra incision according to risk factors, although most of these are not predictive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Baskent University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. suleymano@baskent-ank.edu.tr
authors.forename: Suleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.forename: Tankut Hakki
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Akay
authors.forename: Bahadir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gultekin
authors.forename: Erdal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aslim
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: B Handan
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: Necip
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Becit
authors.forename: Atilay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tasdelen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography