The relation between de novo atherosclerosis remodeling and angioplasty-induced remodeling in an atherosclerotic Yucatan micropig model.

Geometric remodeling in de novo atherosclerosis and in restenosis after balloon angioplasty constitutes a change in total arterial circumference that, together with plaque growth or neointima formation, determines the lumen of the artery. The heterogeneous nature of arterial obstructions raises the question of whether early and late outcomes (restenosis) of angioplasty are affected by the degree and direction of de novo atherosclerotic remodeling. This study was designed to assess the relationship between atherosclerotic remodeling and the degree and mechanism of restenosis after balloon angioplasty. Atherosclerosis was induced in 27 peripheral arteries of 18 Yucatan micropigs by a combination of denudation and atherogenic diet. Balloon angioplasty was performed, with serial intravascular ultrasound and quantitative angiography before and after intervention and at 42 days' follow-up. We used the relative media-bounded area (MBA), defined as the MBA of the treated site divided by the MBA of the reference, before angioplasty as a measure of remodeling in de novo atherosclerosis and late MBA loss as a measure of remodeling after balloon angioplasty. Relative MBA before angioplasty was not correlated with angiographic and echographic acute gain after balloon angioplasty (r=.22, P=.28 and r=.14, P=.48) or with late lumen loss (r=-.05, P=.81 and r=.19, P=.33). No correlation was found between relative MBA and late MBA loss (r=.14 and P=.48). In the atherosclerotic Yucatan micropig, remodeling during de novo atherosclerosis has no relevance for acute gain and late lumen loss after balloon angioplasty. Both the direction and the extent of remodeling after balloon angioplasty are not related to the direction and extent of remodeling during de novo atherosclerosis.