Effect of Hypertension on Coronary Remodeling Patterns in Angiographically Normal or Minimally Atherosclerotic Coronary Arteries: An Intravascular Ultrasound Study

Whether there is any particular role of hypertension in remodeling process has not been completely understood yet. The aim of this study was to assess the association between hypertension and remodeling patterns in normal or minimally atherosclerotic coronary arteries. Seventy-nine patients who were free of significant coronary atherosclerosis were divided into two groups according to the absence (n = 39) or presence (n = 40) of hypertension; and standard intravascular ultrasound examination was performed in 145 segments. To determine the remodeling pattern in early atherosclerotic process, patients were also analyzed according to the level of plaque burden at the lesion site after the analysis of remodeling patterns. Positive remodeling was more prevalent in the hypertensive group (52.5% vs. 12.8%; P.001) whereas negative remodeling was more common in diabetic patients (53.6% vs. 27.4%; P = .03). Mean remodeling index was 1.04 for hypertensives and 0.96 for normotensives (P = .03). There were no correlations between remodeling patterns and other risk factors such as age, family history, and hypercholesterolemia. Early atherosclerotic lesions (30%) exhibited more negative remodeling characteristics while intermediate pattern was observed more frequently in patients with high plaque burden (P = .006 and .02, respectively). Positive remodeling showed no association in this context (P = .07). This study demonstrated that minimal atherosclerotic lesions in hypertensives had a tendency for compensatory arterial enlargement. Positive remodeling may result from local adaptive processes within vessel wall or hemodynamic effects of blood pressure itself.