This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Data Supplement Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vermeulen, E. G. J. Articles by van Hinsbergh, V. W. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vermeulen, E. G. J. Articles by van Hinsbergh, V. W. M. Related Collections Pathophysiology Risk Factors Smooth muscle proliferation and differentiation Endothelium/vascular type/nitric oxide Mechanism of atherosclerosis/growth factors

(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2001;21:573.)
© 2001 American Heart Association, Inc.

Atherosclerosis and Lipoproteins

Decreased Smooth Muscle Cell/Extracellular Matrix Ratio of Media of Femoral Artery in Patients With Atherosclerosis and Hyperhomocysteinemia

E. G. J. Vermeulen; H. W. M. Niessen; M. Bogels; C. D. A. Stehouwer; J. A. Rauwerda; V. W. M. van Hinsbergh

From the Department of General Surgery, Vascular Surgical Unit (E.G.J.V., J.A.R.), the Institute for Cardiovascular Research (E.G.J.V., H.W.M.N., C.D.A.S., J.A.R., V.W.M.v.H.), the Department of Pathology (H.W.M.N., M.B.), and the Department of Internal Medicine (C.D.A.S.), University Hospital "Vrije Universiteit," Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Gaubius Laboratory TNO-PG (V.W.M.v.H.), Leiden, the Netherlands.

Correspondence to E.G.J. Vermeulen, Department of General Surgery, Vascular Surgical Unit, Gelre Hospitals Apeldoorn, PO Box 9014, 7300 DS Apeldoorn, Netherlands. E-mail EGJ.Vermeulen{at}azvu.nl

Abstract—The aim of this study was to determine whether the morphology of the muscular femoral artery in patients with atherosclerosis and hyperhomocysteinemia differs from that of atherosclerotic vessels from patients with normal homocysteine levels. Whole-vessel biopsies of the superficial femoral artery were taken from patients with symptomatic atherosclerotic disease with and without hyperhomocysteinemia and from patients without atherosclerosis from traumatic amputations. The morphology of these specimens was studied qualitatively by light and electron microscopy and quantitatively by light microscopy in combination with a video overlay system. Atherosclerotic lesions in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia were morphologically similar to those in patients with normal homocysteine levels, except for a significantly decreased smooth muscle cell/extracellular matrix ratio of the media in hyperhomocysteinemic patients (P=0.02 versus normohomocysteinemic atherosclerotic group and P=0.001 versus group without a history of cardiovascular disease). Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with a significant decrease of the smooth muscle cell/extracellular matrix ratio of the media of muscular femoral arteries without significant changes in medial thickness. Further investigations should concentrate on the cause of this newly discovered phenomenon and its impact on vascular compliance.

Key Words: hyperhomocysteinemia • smooth muscle cells • arterial wall histology • extracellular matrix

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M P V Begieneman, F R W van de Goot, I A C van der Bilt, A V. Noordegraaf, M D Spreeuwenberg, W J Paulus, V W M van Hinsbergh, F C Visser, and H W M Niessen Pulmonary embolism causes endomyocarditis in the human heart Heart, April 1, 2008; 94(4): 450 - 456. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. McMahon, C. M. Skeaff, S. M. Williams, and T. J. Green Lowering Homocysteine with B Vitamins Has No Effect on Blood Pressure in Older Adults J. Nutr., May 1, 2007; 137(5): 1183 - 1187. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Sundstrom, L. Sullivan, R. B. D'Agostino, P. F. Jacques, J. Selhub, I. H. Rosenberg, P. W.F. Wilson, D. Levy, and R. S. Vasan Plasma Homocysteine, Hypertension Incidence, and Blood Pressure Tracking: The Framingham Heart Study Hypertension, December 1, 2003; 42(6): 1100 - 1105. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. Stooker, M. Gok, P. Sipkema, H. W. M. Niessen, A. Baidoshvili, N. Westerhof, E. K. Jansen, C. R. H. Wildevuur, and L. Eijsman Pressure-diameter relationship in the human greater saphenous vein Ann. Thorac. Surg., November 1, 2003; 76(5): 1533 - 1538. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. L. Baumbach, C. D. Sigmund, T. Bottiglieri, and S. R. Lentz Structure of Cerebral Arterioles in Cystathionine {beta}-Synthase-Deficient Mice Circ. Res., November 15, 2002; 91(10): 931 - 937. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Makin, S.H. Silverman, and G.Y.H. Lip Peripheral vascular disease and Virchow's triad for thrombogenesis QJM, April 1, 2002; 95(4): 199 - 210. [Full Text] [PDF]