Characteristics and value of intravascular ultrasound in angiographic intermediate coronary stenosis

Objective To investigate the characteristics and lesion of angiographic intermediate coronary stenosis using intravascular ultrasound(IVUS).Methods Forty-seven coronary artery segments with intermediate stenosis found by coronary artery angiography(CAG) in 36 patients were measured by IVUS.We analyzed the characteristics of the plaques by IVUS.The stenostic morphology and the severity of intermediate stenoses in two techniques were compared.Results The lumen morphology and plaque characteristics could not be found in CAG.Eccentric stenosis in 13 arteries,concentric in 34 ones were found by CAG;38 eccentric plaques,9 concentric plaques and 29 vulnerable plaques were demonstrated in IVUS.There were significant differences in the parameters of the diameter stenosis rate of injured vessels between CAG and IVUS((45.24±12.1) % vs(56.37±11.2)%,P0.05).The area stenosis rate determined by IVUS was(79.51±15.5)%.Thirty-one stents were implanted in all of the 47 coronary stenosis segments.Conclusion In the majority of angiographic intermediate coronary stenosis,plaques have several structural features of vulnerability.IVUS is able to accurately identify the lumen morphology,plaque characteristics and the stenostic severity of intermediate diseased coronary arteries.