Impaired coronary artery distensibility is an endothelium-dependent process and is associated with vulnerable plaque composition

• Published in: Clinical physiology and functional imaging 2016-07, Vol.36 (4), p.261-268
• Main Authors: Ahmadi, Naser, Ruiz-Garcia, Juan, Hajsadeghi, Fereshteh, Azen, Stanley, Mack, Wendy, Hodis, Howard, Lerman, Amir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetylcholine - administration & dosage; Adenosine - administration & dosage; Adult; Area Under Curve; Coronary Angiography; coronary artery disease; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnostic imaging; Coronary Artery Disease - pathology; Coronary Artery Disease - physiopathology; coronary artery distensibility; Coronary Circulation; coronary endothelial-dependent microvascular dysfunction; coronary flow reserve; Coronary Stenosis - diagnostic imaging; Coronary Stenosis - pathology; Coronary Stenosis - physiopathology; Coronary Vessels - diagnostic imaging; Coronary Vessels - pathology; Coronary Vessels - physiopathology; Endothelium, Vascular - physiopathology; Female; Humans; Infusions, Intra-Arterial; Injections, Intra-Arterial; Male; Microcirculation; Middle Aged; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Predictive Value of Tests; ROC Curve; Severity of Illness Index; Ultrasonography, Interventional; Vasodilator Agents - administration & dosage; vulnerable plaque composition
• ISSN: 1475-0961; 1475-097X
• DOI: 10.1111/cpf.12220

Summary Coronary endothelial‐dependent microvascular dysfunction, an early reversible stage of coronary artery disease (CAD), is associated with poor clinical outcome. The current study investigated whether coronary artery distensibility index (CDI) is associated with: (i) coronary endothelial‐dependent microvascular dysfunction and (ii) vulnerable plaque composition among subjects with non‐obstructive CAD. Seventy‐four subjects with non‐obstructive CAD (luminal stenosis