title: Positive remodeling of the coronary arteries detected by magnetic resonance imaging in an asymptomatic population: MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess coronary arterial remodeling as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis using coronary wall magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an asymptomatic population-based cohort.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  In early atherosclerosis, compensatory enlargement of both the outer wall of the vessel as well as the lumen, termed compensatory enlargement or positive remodeling, occurs before luminal narrowing.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred seventy-nine participants in the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) trial were evaluated using black-blood coronary wall MRI. Coronary cross-sectional area (vessel size), lumen area, and mean wall thickness of the proximal coronary arteries were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Men had a greater vessel size, lumen area, and mean wall thickness than women (38.3 +/- 11.3 mm2 vs. 32.6 +/- 9.4 mm2, 6.7 +/- 3.2 mm2 vs. 5.3 +/- 2.4 mm2, and 2.0 +/- 0.3 mm vs. 1.9 +/- 0.3 mm, respectively, p < 0.05). No significant coronary artery narrowing was present by magnetic resonance angiography. Overall, coronary vessel size increased 25.9 mm2 per millimeter increase in coronary wall thickness, whereas lumen area increased only slightly at 3.1 mm2 for every millimeter increase in wall thickness (difference in slopes, p < 0.0001). Adjusting for age and sex, participants with an Agatston score >0 were more likely to have wall thickness >2.0 mm (odds ratio: 2.0, 95% confidence interval: 1.01 to 3.84).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coronary wall MRI detected positive arterial remodeling in asymptomatic men and women with subclinical atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Cuilian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Shaoguang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Robson
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: Shenghan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Kiang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Debiao
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Wasserman
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vogel-Claussen
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vogel-Clausen
authors.forename: João A C
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bluemke
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers