Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Optical Coherence Tomography Based Biomechanical Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis of Coronary Atherosclerosis Progression
Published on: January 15, 2022
The assessment of atherosclerosis on vascular structures in patients with acute coronary syndrome
Nihat Kalay1, Mikail Yarlioglues, Idris Ardic
1Department of Cardiology, Erciyes University Medical Faculty, Kayseri, Turkey. nihatkalay@hotmail.com
Insights
This study found a link between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), and coronary atherosclerosis severity in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. However, lesion morphology in the brachial artery was not associated with CIMT or FMD.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Vascular Biology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Endothelial dysfunction is an early marker of atherosclerosis.
- Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) assess endothelial health.
- Coronary angiography reveals atherosclerotic properties linked to cardiovascular events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between coronary, brachial, and carotid artery atherosclerosis.
- To correlate CIMT and FMD with coronary angiographic findings in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.
Main Methods:
- 133 ACS patients were studied, excluding those with prior coronary artery disease, diabetes, or hypertension.
- Coronary angiography, CIMT, and FMD were measured.
- Gensini score evaluated coronary atherosclerosis severity; diseased vessels and critical lesions were quantified.
Main Results:
- Impaired FMD (44% of patients) was associated with higher Gensini scores, more diseased vessels, and critical lesions.
- Increased CIMT (33% of patients) also correlated with higher Gensini scores and more diseased vessels.
- Weak correlations were observed between CIMT, FMD, and the angiographic severity of coronary atherosclerosis.
Conclusions:
- A relationship exists between CIMT, FMD, and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis in ACS patients.
- Brachial artery lesion morphology was not associated with CIMT or FMD in this ACS cohort.
Introduction:
Endothelial dysfunction plays a crucial role in the process of atherosclerotic diseases and has been accepted as an early stage of atherosclerosis. Carotid intima-media-thickness (CIMT) and flow-mediated-dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery have been recommended as noninvasive methods to assess endothelial structure and function. Angiographic properties of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are closely associated with cardiovascular events. In this study, we investigated the relation of atherosclerotic properties of coronary, brachial and carotid arteries with CIMT, FMD and coronary angiography in patients with ACS.
Methods:
We enrolled 133 patients who were diagnosed with ACS into this study. Exclusion criteria were known coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Coronary angiography, CIMT and FMD were measured in all patients. The numbers of major stenotic coronary vessels with > or = 50% or > or = 70% were defined as diseased vessel. Gensini score was used to evaluate the severity of atherosclerosis. Morphologic properties of stenotic lesion were defined. Cutoff levels were 7% for FMD and 0.9 mm for CIMT.
Results:
Mean age was 59.7 + or - 11.8 years. FMD, CIMT and Gensini score were 8.3 + or - 5.9%, 0.80 + or - 0.19 mm and 7.8 + or - 3.5, respectively. Only 44% of patients with ACS had impaired FMD. Gensini score, number of diseased vessels and number of critical lesions were higher in patients with impaired FMD. (Gensini: 8.7 + or - 3.6 vs. 7.0 + or - 3.1, p = 0.009, diseased vessels: 2.7 + or - 0.4 vs. 2.3 + or - 0.7, p < 0.0001, critical lesions: 3.0 + or - 2.1 vs. 2.2 + or - 1.4, p = 0.02). Increased CIMT was found in only 33% of patients. Gensini score and number of diseased vessels were significantly higher in patients with increased CIMT. Significant but weak correlations were found between CIMT, FMD and angiographic severity of coronary atherosclerosis. Angiographic properties and lesion morphology were similar between CIMT and FMD groups.
Conclusion:
There appears to be a relationship between CIMT, FMD and severity of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with ACS. However, in patients with ACS, morphologic properties of stenotic lesions are not associated with CIMT and FMD in brachial artery.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies
01:27Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests
01:26Acute Coronary Syndrome V: Nursing Management
01:19Acute Coronary Syndrome II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations
01:30Acute Coronary Syndrome I: Introduction
01:25Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT