Highlights
- •ESS features (i.e. low magnitude and marked circum. heterogeneity) are associated with de novo eccentric plaque formation.
- •Worsening of plaque eccentricity in diseased regions presents in areas with both low ESS and large plaque burden.
- •The hemodynamic milieu is critical for eccentric coronary plaque formation in both early and advanced disease stages.
Abstract
Background
Eccentric distribution of atheroma has been associated with plaques likely to rupture
and cause an acute coronary syndrome, but the factors responsible for the development
of eccentricity remain unknown. Endothelial shear stress (ESS) drives plaque formation.
We aimed to investigate the role of the local ESS characteristics in the de novo development and progressive worsening of plaque eccentricity in humans.
Methods
Vascular profiling (3-vessel 3D coronary reconstruction by angiography/intravascular
ultrasound, and blood flow simulation for ESS computation) was performed in 374 patients
at baseline & 6–10 months follow-up. At baseline, we identified (i) disease-free segments
(n = 2157), and (ii) diseased regions of luminal obstructions (n = 408).
Results
In disease-free regions, baseline low ESS magnitude (p < 0.001), marked ESS circumferential
heterogeneity (p = 0.001), and their interaction (p = 0.026) were associated with
an increased probability of de novo eccentric plaque formation at follow-up. In diseased regions, baseline low ESS (odds
ratio [OR]: 2.33, p = 0.003) and large plaque burden (OR: 2.46, p = 0.002) were independent
predictors of substantially increasing plaque eccentricity index with worsening lumen
encroachment. This combined outcome was more frequent in obstructions with both features
vs. all others (33 vs. 12%; p < 0.001). The incidence of percutaneous coronary intervention
in worsening obstructions with increasing plaque eccentricity was higher (13.3 vs.
4.3%, p = 0.011).
Conclusions
The local hemodynamic environment has a critical effect on the development of eccentric
coronary plaques at both an early and advanced stage of atherosclerosis. Local ESS
assessment could help in predicting sites prone to plaque disruption and acute coronary
syndromes in humans.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 17, 2015
Accepted:
March 10,
2015
Received in revised form:
January 17,
2015
Received:
October 30,
2014
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
