Remodeling Index Compared to Actual Vascular Remodeling in Atherosclerotic Left Main Coronary Arteries as Assessed With Long-Term (≥12 Months) Serial Intravascular Ultrasound

ObjectivesWe present the remodeling index (RI) versus serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) data.BackgroundThe RI, derived by comparing lesion external elastic membrane (EEM) cross-sectional area versus the reference at one time point, is used in various IVUS studies as a substitute of true remodeling (change in EEM over time), assuming that it represents true remodeling.MethodsWe studied 46 non-stenotic left main arteries using serial IVUS (follow-up 18 ± 8 months). Plaques were divided into subgroups according to the follow-up RI: follow-up RI >1 (n = 27) versus follow-up RI ≤1 (n = 19).ResultsLesions with a follow-up RI >1 had an increase in lumen despite an increase in plaque because of an increase in EEM. Conversely, lesions with a follow-up RI ≤1 had a reduction in lumen as a result of both a plaque increase and EEM decrease. Overall, the follow-up RI correlated directly with changes in lesionsite EEM (baseline-to-follow-up). Although there was no correlation between the follow-up RI and changes in referenceEEM area, changes in reference EEM area did correlate directly with changes in lesion EEM area. In nearly 90% of lesions with a follow-up RI >1, there was a previously documented increase in EEM area. Using multivariate linear regression analysis, the follow-up RI was dependent on the baseline RI, the increase in lesion EEM area, and the decrease in reference EEM area. The follow-up RI was not dependent on changes in lesion plaque area.ConclusionsThe vast majority of left main lesions with a remodeling index >1 had evidence of a previous increase in lesion-site EEM area.