title: Differences in coronary artery plaques between target and non-target vessels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We used intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and virtual histology (VH) to assess the differences of plaque burden and composition between target coronary arteries containing the culprit lesion and non-target coronary arteries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients referred for acute (n = 19) or elective (n = 41) coronary angiography were included. The target vessel containing the culprit lesion was identified by angiography. A non-target coronary artery was chosen for comparison. The first 4 cm of each vessel were analyzed with IVUS and VH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total plaque burden was higher in the target vessel compared to the non-target vessel (52.4% vs. 45.9%, a relative difference of 14.2%; p < 0.001). The plaque composition of the target vessel correlated strongly with the plaque composition of the non-target vessel, but the relative amount of necrotic core was significantly higher in the target vessels (21.7% vs 19.2%; p = 0.028), whereas the amount of fibrolipidic material was significantly greater in non-target vessels (10.6% vs. 12.7%; p = 0.035).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that in patients with relevant coronary artery disease, plaque burden and the amount of necrotic core material are greater in the target vessel. There is a strong correlation of plaque composition between target and non-target coronary arteries.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Kantonsspital Luzern, Luzern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toggweiler
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suter
authors.forename: Andreas W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Schoenenberger
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaspar
authors.forename: Peiman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jamshidi
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Erne
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional