What protects Internal Thoracic Artery from atherosclerosis?
Here is brief information and the most important conclusions. To read original article, click this link The internal mammary arteries (IMAs) are commonly used as the conduit to bypass major coronary artery stenosis, and have shown greater long-term patency rates and improved survival as compared to saphenous vein grafts (SVGs). The internal mammary artery (IMA) grafts have been associated with long-term patency and improved survival as compared to saphenous vein grafts (SVGs). The superiority of IMAs over SVGs can be attributed to its striking resistance to the development of atherosclerosis. Structurally its endothelial layer shows fewer fenestrations, lower intercellular junction permeability, greater anti-thrombotic molecules such as heparin sulfate and tissue plasminogen activator, and higher endothelial nitric oxide production , which are some of the unique ways that make the IMA impervious to the transfer of lipoproteins, which are res...