Plaque location correlates with vessel wall remodeling in intracranial atherosclerosis

Motivation: Research indicates that vessel wall remodeling patterns correlate with plaque stability. However, factors influencing vessel wall remodeling are still unclear. Goal(s): To evaluate the relationship between plaque location and vessel wall remodeling. Approach: Included MCA plaques were categorized into three groups based on location: proximal, middle, and distal. We compared remodeling ratio and stenotic degree among these groups, and evaluated risk factors for different remodeling patterns. Results: Compared with proximal and distal groups, middle group had lower remodeling ratio. Proximal and distal locations of plaques were independently associated with positive remodeling, while the middle location of plaques was independently associated with negative remodeling. Impact: The location of plaques is associated with different pattern of vessel wall remodeling, suggesting that the position of plaques may play a role in the pathophysiological process of vessel wall remodeling. The mechanism of vessel wall remodeling merits further investigation.