For over a decade, the survival benefit of the use of the left internal mammary artery (IMA) for patients undergoing coronary re-vascularization has been well established. Therefore, in particular in the more recent period, an expanded use of the IMA in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has been reported [1] [2]. In spite of the similarity of arterial hemodynamics, intrathoracic respiratory pressure changes, biochemical environment and cross-sectional diameter, the incidence of atherosclerosis is known to be lower in IMA than in coronary artery [3]. Several angiographic [4] [5] [6] and histopathologic studies [7] [8] have shown that the IMA is relatively free from major occlusive disease. The specific histologic, ultrastructural and histochemical properties of the IMA may protect it from atherosclerosis [5] [9]. However, because of variability in structure and reactivity along its downstream course, selection of the anastomotic site at the distal end of this artery may have some disadvantages. He et al. have shown that the distal section of the IMA has the highest reactivity along its full length and it is the part where the spasm may develop [10]. Van Son et al. have found that the degree of intimal thickening in the IMA is greater at its distal segment [11]. Diffuse intimal thickening may represent an early phase of the atherosclerotic process.

In order to evaluate the reliability of the use of the distal section of the IMA as an anastomotic site for bypass grafting with regard to its susceptibility to develop intimal changes or atherosclerosis, histopathology and morphometric studies of IMA in patients with proven coronary artery disease were performed and the associated risk factors were studied.

Patient characteristics: Patients undergoing CABG from June 2010 to November 2012 were chosen. The vessels used in this study were the discarded distal segments of the internal mammary artery. Samples from a total number of 130 consecutive patients were obtained out of which 100 were analysed.30 samples were not suitable for morphometric analysis due to the following reasons—samples with inadequate LIMA length to get a good cross sectional cut of the LIMA and samples with clamping artefacts. The potential risk factors for atherosclerosis considered were age, sex, diabetes mellitus, history of cigarette smoking, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.

Histopathology: The arterial segments were processed and paraffin blocks were created. Sections were cut and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Verhoeff-Van Gieson elastin (VVG) stain was used. A single pathologist blinded to the clinical data examined the slides. In this study, three methods were used to evaluate the degree of intimal thickening and arteriosclerosis:

1) Percentage of Luminal Narrowing

2) Intimal Thickness Index (ITI)

3) Intima-to-Media Ratio (IMR).

The severity of disease was calculated from the most severely diseased section using the following formulae:

Percentage of luminal narrowing = 100 × intimal area/internal elastic lamina area

ITI = intimal area/medial area

IMR = width of intima at maximal intimal thickness/width of media at maximal intimal thickness.

Morphometric evaluation: Morphometric evaluation was accomplished by a computerized image analysis system. The system comprised of

· Microscope - AxioLab (Carl Zeiss)

· Camera - Axiocam ICC1

· PC - Microsoft Windows XP SP2

· Application Software - Axiovision 4.8.2

For morphometric analysis, VVG stained sections were used. The sections were screened and fields were selected. The field indicating maximum intimal thickness was captured at the magnification of 4×. The intimal (um) and medial thickness (um) were measured. The specimens were then graded as follows (adapted from Kobayashi and colleagues) [12]:

· Grade 0: Insignificant/no lesion

· Grade 1: intima-to-media ratio lesser than 0.25

· Grade 2: intima-to-media ratio greater than 0.25 but less than or equal to 0.5

· Grade 3: intima-to-media ratio greater than 0.5 but less than or equal to 0.75

· Grade 4: intima-to-media ratio greater than 0.75

Microscopic morphology: Vessels were recorded as normal if there was no cellular or stromal tissue between the endothelium and the internal elastic lamina. Vessels with any fibromyointimal proliferation between the endothelium and internal elastic lamina were recorded as indicating intimal hyperplasia. An atherosclerotic lesion was defined by the presence of intimal lipid lying free as cholesterol clefts or in aggregates of foamy macrophages.

Descriptive statistics were reported as mean with standard deviation for the continuous variables, number and percentages for the categorical variables. Independent t test was used to compare the % Luminal narrowing, ITI and IMR between gender, the presence of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, smokers and alcoholic. P value less than 5% was considered statistically significant. All the analyses were done using SPSS version 18.0 software.

Histopathology: There were 7 cases of intimal hyperplasia and two cases of focal medial and intimal hyperplasia with fatty streak and no cases of atherosclerosis and medial calcification. No Grade 4 (>75% Luminal Narrowing) lesions were found (Figure 1).

Morphometric analysis:

Morphometric measurements (n = 100) were done and percentage of luminal narrowing, intimal thickness index and intima to media ratio was calculated.

There was no significant difference in the percentage of luminal narrowing, ITI and IMR between the presence of DM, HTN, dyslipidaemia and alcoholic. The results indicate minimal relationship between known risk factors and extent of atherosclerosis in the ITA. The median IMR among smoker and non-smokers were 0.25 and 0.17 respectively. The median IMR in smokers was higher as compared to non-smokers (p = 0.05). The median IMR among males was significantly higher as compared to females (p = 0.03).

Histopathology:

In our study, we found no cases of atherosclerosis and intimal hyperplasia was found in 5 cases. In 1976, Kay et al. examined 215 ITAs from routine post-mortem examinations and found a >25% reduction in lumen diameter in 4.2% of ITAs. [13] No patient had a >50% narrowing (Table 2). Other post-mortem and angiographic studies have reported an incidence rate of ITA atheroslcerosis ranging from 2.4% to 5% [14] [15].

Morphometric analysis:

Percentage of luminal narrowing is a measure of severity of intimal thickening, including atherosclerosis. The area rather than the thickness of the intima is measured to allow accurate evaluation of eccentric or irregular disease. It is presumed to be a useful parameter for comparing intimal thickening in different vascular beds. The ITI and IMR are alternative methods of comparing intimal disease in different vascular beds. ITI is more accurate because it uses areas of intima and media rather than width.

Risk factors:

Smoking, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension are common risk factors for coronary artery disease, but these factors appear to have different effects on arteries in different locations of the body [16] [17] [18]. In our study, there was no significant difference in the percentage of luminal narrowing, ITI and IMR between the presence of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and alcholics (Table 1) [16]. The results in our study indicate minimal relationship between known risk factors and extent of atherosclerosis in the ITA. Kay et al. found that intimal thickening of the ITA correlated with age, hypertension, diabetes and PVD [13].

In our study, median IMR in smokers was higher than in non smokers (Table 2) [19]. In a study by Permyos et al., comparative histopathology of radial artery versus ITA was done and risk factors for intimal hyperplasia in ITA were age and smoking (Table 3).

Reported as number; *-mean ± SD, median (25^th, 75^th percentiles).

P value using Mann-Whitney U test.

P value using Mann-Whitney U test.

In our study, the median IMR among males was significantly higher as compared to females (Table 1). In a study by Dignan et al., the influence of age and sex on human ITA size and reactivity was studied and the data suggested that IMAs from women and the elderly were not more susceptible to reduction in flow due to smaller size [20] [21] [22]. In regard to female gender, no study has yet reported a significant association with intimal hyperplasia or other structural changes in ITA.

In our study, there was no significant difference in the percentage of luminal narrowing, ITI and IMR between the presence of DM, HTN, dyslipidaemia and alcoholics. The median IMR among males was significantly higher as compared to females. However, the limitation in our study is the limited sample size and we would need a larger study for us to derive more accurate results. In the future, as a continuation to our study, we are planning a follow-up of these patients and perform a check angiogram to identify the flow in the internal mammary artery and collaborate the findings with this study.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Suresh, S., Kalpana, S.R., Jayanth Kumar, H.V., Selvam, S. and Sreedhar, K. (2020) Histopathology and Morphometric Analysis of the Internal Mammary Artery to Study the Incidence of Atherosclerosis and Its Associated Risk Factors. World Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery, 10, 67-74. https://doi.org/10.4236/wjcs.2020.106009