TY - JOUR
T1 - Clinically stable angina pectoris is not necessarily associated with histologically stable atherosclerotic plaques
AU - van der Wal, A. C.
AU - Becker, A. E.
AU - Koch, K. T.
AU - Piek, J. J.
AU - Teeling, P.
AU - van der Loos, C. M.
AU - David, G. K.
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the extent of plaque inflammation in culprit lesions of patients with chronic stable angina. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Amsterdam reference centre. SUBJECTS: 89 consecutive patients who underwent directional coronary atherectomy, 58 of whom met the following inclusion criteria: chronic stable angina (Canadian Cardiovascular Society classification 1-3 (group 1, n = 28)); unstable angina (Braunwald class II (group 2, n = 18)); unstable angina (Braunwald class III (group 3, n = 12)). INTERVENTIONS: Directional atherectomy in patients with angina pectoris. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Tissue areas of culprit lesions occupied by inflammatory cells and smooth muscle cells related to clinically defined ischaemic syndrome. RESULTS: Areas (% of total surface area (mean (SEM)) rich in smooth muscle cells were larger in patients with chronic stable angina (group 1, 51.2 (20.9)) than in those with unstable angina (group 2, 42.1 (20.5); group 3, 29.5 (19.4)) (1 v 2 and 2 v 3, NS; 1 v 3, P <0.004). Macrophage rich areas were significantly smaller in patients with stable angina (group 1, 21.8 (11.9)) than in those with unstable angina (group 2, 31.5 (14.6); group 3, 46.4 (16.7)) (1 v 2, P <0.02; 2 v 3, P <0.02; 1 v 3, P <0.001). Mean numbers of T cells per mm2 were as follows: group 1, 17 (9.4); group 2, 25 (15.9); group 3, 41 (30.6) (1 v 2, P 0.04; 2 v 3, P 0.07; 1 v 3, P <0.001). Areas with HLA-DR positive cells showed the same pattern as macrophages and T cells and were smaller in stable (29.9 (12.4)) than in unstable angina (group 2, 40.4 (17.6); group 3, 52.4 (12.0)) (1 v 2, P <0.02; 2 v 3, P <0.05; 1 v 3, P <0.001). CONCLUSION: The inverse relation between the extent of inflammatory activity in plaque tissues of culprit lesions and the clinical stability of the ischaemic syndrome supports the concept that reduction of inflammation favours plaque stabilisation. At the same time, the considerable overlap between groups indicates that patients with clinically stable angina do not all have histologically stable plaques
AB - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the extent of plaque inflammation in culprit lesions of patients with chronic stable angina. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Amsterdam reference centre. SUBJECTS: 89 consecutive patients who underwent directional coronary atherectomy, 58 of whom met the following inclusion criteria: chronic stable angina (Canadian Cardiovascular Society classification 1-3 (group 1, n = 28)); unstable angina (Braunwald class II (group 2, n = 18)); unstable angina (Braunwald class III (group 3, n = 12)). INTERVENTIONS: Directional atherectomy in patients with angina pectoris. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Tissue areas of culprit lesions occupied by inflammatory cells and smooth muscle cells related to clinically defined ischaemic syndrome. RESULTS: Areas (% of total surface area (mean (SEM)) rich in smooth muscle cells were larger in patients with chronic stable angina (group 1, 51.2 (20.9)) than in those with unstable angina (group 2, 42.1 (20.5); group 3, 29.5 (19.4)) (1 v 2 and 2 v 3, NS; 1 v 3, P <0.004). Macrophage rich areas were significantly smaller in patients with stable angina (group 1, 21.8 (11.9)) than in those with unstable angina (group 2, 31.5 (14.6); group 3, 46.4 (16.7)) (1 v 2, P <0.02; 2 v 3, P <0.02; 1 v 3, P <0.001). Mean numbers of T cells per mm2 were as follows: group 1, 17 (9.4); group 2, 25 (15.9); group 3, 41 (30.6) (1 v 2, P 0.04; 2 v 3, P 0.07; 1 v 3, P <0.001). Areas with HLA-DR positive cells showed the same pattern as macrophages and T cells and were smaller in stable (29.9 (12.4)) than in unstable angina (group 2, 40.4 (17.6); group 3, 52.4 (12.0)) (1 v 2, P <0.02; 2 v 3, P <0.05; 1 v 3, P <0.001). CONCLUSION: The inverse relation between the extent of inflammatory activity in plaque tissues of culprit lesions and the clinical stability of the ischaemic syndrome supports the concept that reduction of inflammation favours plaque stabilisation. At the same time, the considerable overlap between groups indicates that patients with clinically stable angina do not all have histologically stable plaques
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1136/hrt.76.4.312
DO - https://doi.org/10.1136/hrt.76.4.312
M3 - Article
C2 - 8983676
SN - 1355-6037
VL - 76
SP - 312
EP - 316
JO - Heart (British Cardiac Society)
JF - Heart (British Cardiac Society)
IS - 4
ER -