STRADIVARIUS (Strategy To Reduce Atherosclerosis Development InVolving Administration of Rimonabant - the Intravascular Ultrasound Study)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Written and signed informed consent
• Indication for coronary angiography
• Abdominal obesity defined by waist circumference > 88 cm in women or > 102 cm in men
• At least one of the two following conditions: *a) Metabolic syndrome as defined by the presence of at least two of the following additional risk factors: 1. Triglyceride level >= 150 mg/dL (1.69 mmol/L); 2. HDL cholesterol < 40 mg/dL (1.03 mmol/L) [men] or 50 mg/dL (1.28 mmol/L) [women]; 3. Fasting glucose >= 110 mg/dL (6.1 mmol/L); 4. High blood pressure (>= 140 mmHg systolic and/or >= 90 mmHg diastolic) at Screening visit, or current treatment by anti-hypertensive medication; *b) Currently smoking (> 10 cigarettes /day) and willing to stop
• Angiographic evidence of coronary heart disease as defined by at least 1 lesion in a native coronary artery that has >= 20% reduction in lumen diameter by angiographic visual estimation
• Presence of at least one coronary artery complying with the definition of "target vessel" for IVUS assessment
• Acceptation of the Baseline IVUS tape by the IVUS Core Laboratory

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age < 18 years
• Pregnant or breast-feeding women
• History of very low-calorie diet or surgical procedures for weight loss (eg, stomach stapling, bypass) within 6 months prior to screening visit
• Obesity of known endocrine origin
• Uncontrolled diabetes with HBA1c >10%
• Presence of any severe medical or psychological condition, that in the opinion of the Investigator would compromise the subject's safety or successful participation in the study
• Severe congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] Class III or IV)
• Clinically significant heart disease which in the opinion of the Investigator is likely to require coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), cardiac transplantation, surgical repair and/or replacement during the course of the study
• Angioplasty of a non-qualifying artery which is considered at high risk of acute complication or restenosis, during baseline catheterization
• >50% reduction in lumen diameter of the left main coronary artery by visual angiographic estimation
• Recent ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI) <= 72 hours prior to randomization