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Background: Severity and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) assessed by invasive coronary angiography (ICA) guide treatment and may predict clinical outcome in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS).Objectives: This study tested the hypothesis that coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) is equivalent to ICA for risk assessment in patients with NSTEACS.Methods: The VERDICT (Very Early Versus Deferred Invasive Evaluation Using Computerized Tomography in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes) trial evaluated timing of treatment in relation to outcome in patients with NSTEACS and included a clinically blinded coronary CTA conducted prior to ICA. Severity of CAD was defined as obstructive (coronary stenosis ≥50%) or nonobstructive. Extent of CAD was defined as high risk (obstructive left main or proximal left anterior descending artery stenosis and/or multivessel disease) or non-high risk. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death, nonfatal recurrent myocardial infarction, hospital admission for refractory myocardial ischemia, or heart failure.Results: Coronary CTA and ICA were conducted in 978 patients. During a median follow-up time of 4.2 years (interquartile range: 2.7 to 5.5 years), the primary endpoint occurred in 208 patients (21.3%). The rate of the primary endpoint was up to 1.7-fold higher in patients with obstructive CAD compared with in patients with nonobstructive CAD as defined by coronary CTA (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22 to 2.49; p = 0.002) or ICA (HR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.13 to 2.11; p = 0.007). In patients with high-risk CAD, the rate of the primary endpoint was 1.5-fold higher compared with the rate in those with non-high-risk CAD as defined by coronary CTA (HR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.18 to 2.07; p = 0.002). A similar trend was noted for ICA (HR: 1.28; 95% CI: 0.98 to 1.69; p = 0.07).Conclusions: Coronary CTA is equivalent to ICA for the assessment of long-term risk in patients with NSTEACS. (Very Early Versus Deferred Invasive Evaluation Using Computerized Tomography in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes [VERDICT]; NCT02061891). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We sought to determine whether the amount of noncalcified plaque (NCP) in nonobstructive coronary lesions as detected by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) was a predictor of future coronary events. Background: Patients presenting with non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) frequently have multiple coronary plaques, which may be detected with MDCT. Methods: We included 312 consecutive patients presenting with NSTEMI, who underwent 64-slice MDCT coronary angiography and coronary artery calcium scoring before invasive coronary angiography. All patients were treated according to current guidelines based on an invasive treatment approach. Quantitative measurements of plaque composition and volume were performed by MDCT in all nonobstructive coronary lesions. The endpoint was cardiac death, acute coronary syndrome, or symptom-driven revascularization. Results: After a median follow-up of 16 months, 23 patients had suffered a cardiac event. Age, male sex, and diabetes mellitus were all associated with an increasing amount of NCP. In a multivariate regression analysis for events, the total amount of NCP in nonobstructive lesions was independently associated with an increased hazard ratio (1.18/100-mm3 plaque volume increase, p = 0.01). Contrary to this, neither Agatston score nor the amount of calcium in nonobstructive lesions was associated with an increased risk. Conclusions: Multidetector computed tomography plaque imaging identified patients at increased risk of recurrent coronary events after NSTEMI by measuring the total amount of NCP in nonobstructive lesions. The amount of calcified plaque was not associated with an increased risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare long-term clinical outcomes after implantation of drug-eluting stents (DES) and bare-metal stents (BMS) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Background: The evidence of long-term efficacy and safety after implantation of DES in patients with complex lesions is scarce. Methods: We randomly assigned 626 patients with STEMI referred within 12 h to have a DES or a BMS implanted in the infarct-related lesion with or without distal protection during primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Results: At 3 years, target lesion revascularization was 6.1% in the DES group compared with 16.3% in the BMS group (p < 0.001), and the rate of major adverse cardiac events was 11.5% versus 18.2%, respectively (p = 0.02). Whereas all-cause mortality did not differ significantly, the rate of cardiac death was higher in the DES group, 6.1% versus 1.9% for the BMS group (p = 0.01). The occurrence of reinfarction, stroke, and stent thrombosis was similar. Conclusions: Implantation of DES in patients with STEMI reduces the long-term rate of major adverse cardiac events compared with BMS, but patients with DES had a higher risk of cardiac death not attributed to myocardial infarction or stent thrombosis. (Drug Elution and Distal Protection During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction [DEDICATION]; NCT00192868) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of distal protection during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in native coronary vessels. Background: Embolization of material from the infarct-related lesion during PCI may result in impaired myocardial perfusion and worsen the prognosis. Previous attempts to protect the microcirculation during primary PCI have had conflicting results. Methods: We randomly assigned 626 patients with STEMI referred within 12 h to have PCI performed with (n = 312) or without (n = 314) distal protection. The primary end point was complete (≥70%) ST-segment resolution detected by continuous ST-segment monitoring. Blood levels of troponin-T and creatine kinase-MB were monitored before and after the procedure, and echocardiographic determination of the left ventricular wall motion index (WMI) was performed before discharge. Results: Patients were well matched in terms of demographic and angiographic baseline characteristics. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of the primary end point (76% vs. 72%, p = 0.29), no difference in maximum troponin-T (4.8 μg/l and 5.0 μg/l, p = 0.87) or maximum creatine kinase-MB (185 μg/l and 184 μg/l, p = 0.99), and no difference in median WMI (1.70 vs. 1.70, p = 0.35). The rate of major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE) 1 month after PCI was 5.4% with distal protection and 3.2% with conventional treatment (p = 0.17). Conclusions: The routine use of distal protection by a filterwire system during primary PCI does not seem to improve microvascular perfusion, limit infarct size, or reduce the occurrence of MACCE (Drug Elution and Distal Protection During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction; NCT00192868). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]