Wall stress (WS) is associated with high arterial pressure and affects the localization of atherosclerotic lesions. We sought to non-invasively investigate the distribution of WS along the length of human coronary arteries and investigate its potential effect on atherosclerosis in association with vascular stiffness, local arterial curvature and plaque volume. We reconstructed three-dimensionally 28 coronary arteries from 22 subjects who had undergone coronary computed tomography angiography. Coronary arteries were divided in 2 mm-long segments. WS, vascular stiffness, plaque volume and curvature were calculated in each segment using computational fluid dynamics and morphology measurements. Plaque segments exhibited lower WS compared to their adjacent normal segments. Within plaques, WS was lower in the mid plaque portion compared to the upstream portion. Plaque volume was higher in the mid plaque portion compared to upstream and downstream portions. Low WS was associated with high curvature and both low WS and high curvature were associated with increased plaque volume. The current study demonstrates that WS and plaque volume are not uniform in the longitudinal axis of human coronary plaque. Calculation of WS could serve as a surrogate for the localization of plaque development and the identification of plaques at a more advanced stage of progression.

We sought to noninvasively assess the relationship between arterial remodeling, endothelial shear stress (ESS), and wall stiffness in coronary arteries. We studied 28 coronary arteries from 22 patients undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). The ESS was calculated in 2-mm long segments using computational fluid dynamics. Local remodeling, plaque dimensions, and local wall stiffness were assessed in each segment. The ESS was lower in the regions of excessive expansive remodeling versus compensatory expansive versus inadequate expansive versus constrictive remodeling. Areas of decreased wall stiffness more frequently exhibited excessive expansive remodeling. Plaque volume was higher in segments showing excessive expansive and inadequate remodeling than segments with constrictive remodeling. In conclusion, CCTA enables the noninvasive assessment of coronary hemodynamics and arterial/plaque morphology. Excessive expansive remodeling is associated with high-risk plaque features, such as low ESS, decreased plaque stiffness, and increased plaque volume. This methodology may be useful in the risk assessment of individual coronary lesions.

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