Early remodeling of lower extremity vein grafts: Inflammation influences biomechanical adaptation

A, Mean index segment lumen percentage change dichotomizing the population by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels of ≤5 mg/L vs elevated levels of >5 mg/L. Less outward lumen remodeling was demonstrated in those subjects with elevated hsCRP levels (P = .0072). Data are presented with the standard error of the mean. B, Linear regression of natural-logarithmic transformed hsCRP levels (ln-hsCRP) and the percentage lumen change from the time of surgery to 1 month (R = 0.371, P = .018).

A, Linear regression of the entire population comparing initial shear stress and mean index segment lumen dilation from 0 to 1 month (R = 0.387, P = .016). B, Subset of patients with high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) ≤5 mg/L (R = 0.5, P = .014) and (C) subset of patients with elevated hsCRP >5 mg/L demonstrating loss of correlation between initial shear and lumen dilation (R = 0.103, P = .725).

A, This image is a representative example of a high-resolution two-dimensional magnetic resonance T2-weighted image using black blood module of a human saphenous vein graft. B, The area inscribed by the two lines represents the T2-weighted wall area. The lumen area is 0.327 cm², and the total vessel area is 0.566 cm².