Is arterial remodeling truly a compensatory biological reaction? A mechanical deformation hypothesis.

It has been recognized that arterial enlargement occurs in relation to the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. Previous studies on arterial remodeling have disregarded the role of mechanical deformation and have suggested that compensatory mechanisms occur to maintain arterial flow. We postulated that primary atherosclerotic enlargement and mechanical deformation are the predominant causes of the arterial remodeling. This hypothesis better explains the morphological changes without suggesting additional biological reactions.