Study of the features of coronary artery atheromatous plaque using intravascular ultrasound in patients with impaired glucose tolerance

We used intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to analyze the features of coronary artery atheromatous plaque in patients with impaired glucose tolerance and mild‐to‐moderate angiographic coronary stenosis. The aim was to determine the clinical significance of plaque characteristics as well as the relationship between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and coronary artery lesions.

HbA1c levels were evaluated in 85 patients (96 lesions), of whom 46 had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT Group) and 39 had normal blood glucose (NBG Group). IVUS was used to analyze the lesion vessel of both groups qualitatively and quantitatively. The external elastic membrane area (EEMA), minimal lumen area (MLA), plaque area (PA), and plaque burden (PB) were measured for both the target lesion and the reference segments (reference external elastic membrane area (REEMA), reference minimal lumen area (RMLA), reference plaque area (RPA), and reference plaque burden (RPB), respectively).

HbA1c levels were significantly higher in the IGT Group than in the NBG Group (P < 0.05). In the IGT Group there was more soft plaque, eccentric plaque, and positive remodeling, and less calcification, while in the NBG Group there was much harder plaque and calcification, no reconstruction, and negative remodeling (P < 0.05). MLA was smaller in the IGT Group than in the NBG Group, while EEMA, PA, and PB were clearly greater (P < 0.05). In the meantime, RMLA was clearly smaller in the IGT Group than in the NBG Group, while RPA and RPB were greater (P < 0.05). HbA1c levels were positively correlated with PA and PB, and negatively correlated with MLA.

IVUS is very valuable for the evaluation of mild‐to‐moderate coronary lesions. The coronary artery lesions in patients with IGT are more serious and widespread than those in patients with NBG. HbA1c levels might be of some value in assessing the severity of coronary artery lesions.