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