Search

Background: On-site computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) is a feasible method for examining lesion-specific ischemia, and plaque analysis of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is useful for predicting future cardiac events. However, their utility and association on a per-vessel level remain unclear., Methods: We analyzed vessels showing 50-90 % stenosis on CCTA where planned revascularization was not performed after CCTA within 90 days. Relevant features, including CT-FFR and the plaque burden [necrotic core to the total plaque volume (% necrotic core), and non-calcified plaque (NCP) to vessel volume (% NCP)] using a novel algorithm for analyzing plaque to predict vessel-oriented composite outcomes (VOCO), including cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and unplanned vessel-related revascularization, were assessed., Results: In 256 patients (68.7 ± 9.4 years; 73.8 % male) with 354 vessels (10.5 % CT-FFR ≤ 0.80), VOCO occurred in 24 vessels (6.8 %) during a median follow-up of 3.6 years. Multivariable Cox analysis revealed CT-FFR ≤ 0.80 had the pronounced impact on VOCO, and moreover, higher % necrotic core and % NCP were independently associated with VOCO [adjusted hazard ratio 3.43 (95 % confidence interval 1.42-8.29) and 4.05 (1.19-13.71), respectively], especially for vessels with CT-FFR > 0.80., Conclusions: In vessels without planned revascularization, per-vessel CT-FFR ≤ 0.80 was the notable predictor of future cardiac events. Additionally, necrotic core volume and NCP were identified as independent predictors along with CT-FFR., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Dr. Fujimoto has a research agreement with Canon Medical Systems Corporation that is related to this study. All other authors report no conflicts of interest to the work., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) and instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) are useful in determining indications for revascularization of coronary artery disease (CAD). Although the discordance of FFR and iFR was noted in approximately 20%, this cause has not been well established. We investigated patient background and features on coronary CT angiography (CCTA) showing not only FFR- and iFR-positive findings but also discordance between FFR ≤ 0.8 and iFR ≤ 0.89., Methods: Subjects were consecutively treated in 83 cases with 105 vessels in which stenosis of 30-90% was detected at one vessel of at least 2 mm or more in the major epicardial vessels and FFR and iFR was performed within subsequent 90 days, among suspected CAD which underwent CCTA. The factors affecting not only FFR- and iFR-positive findings, respectively, but also discordance between FFR and iFR was evaluated using logistic regression analysis on per-patient and per-vessel basis., Results: FFR- and iFR-positive findings were observed in 42 vessels (40.0%) and 34 vessels (32.3%), respectively. Discordance between FFR ≤ 0.8 and iFR ≤ 0.89 was observed in 22 vessels (21.0%) of 21 patients. In multivariate logistic analysis, LAD (OR 3.55; 95%CI 1.20-11.71; p = 0.0217) and lumen volume/myocardial weight (L/M) ratio (OR 0.93; 0.86-0.99, p = 0.0290) were significant predictors for FFR-positive findings. For iFR-positive findings, LAD (OR 3.86; 95%CI 1.12-13.31; p = 0.0236) was only significant predictor. In FFR ≤ 0.8 and iFR > 0.89 group (15 vessels, 14.3%), positive remodeling (PR) (OR 5.03, 95%CI 1.23-20.48, p = 0.0205) was significant predictor. In FFR > 0.8 and iFR ≤ 0.89 group (7 vessels, 6.7%), there were no significant predictors., Conclusion: On CCTA characteristics, a relevant predictor for FFR-positive findings included low L/M ratio. PR was significant predictor in FFR-positive, iFR-negative patients among those with discordance between the FFR and iFR.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the optimal cut-off value of CT-Fractional Flow Reserve (CT-FFR) using fluid-structure interaction and how to adjust the CT-FFR's underestimation from a standpoint of minimize 1-year cardiac events. Subjects were 38 cases with 44 vessels in which stenosis of 30-90% was detected using one-rotation scanning by 320-row coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and invasive FFR (i-FFR) was performed within subsequent 90 days. CT-FFR was calculated using on-site from the multiple cardiac phases. A hypothetical 1-year cardiac event incidence was estimated using previous evidences when revascularization was decided based on CT-FFR. We assessed the optimal cut-off value of CT-FFR and how to correct the CT-FFR to minimize hypothetical cardiac events under four different disease prevalence (20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, and 40%). A total of 16 vessels had i-FFR ≤ 0.8. On per-patient basis, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predict value, negative predict value, and diagnostic accuracy of CT-FFR ≦ 0.8 vs CCTA > 50% to detect functional stenosis defined as invasive FFR ≦ 0.80 were 93.3% vs 73.3%, 73.9% vs 26.1%, 70.0% vs 39.3%, 94.4% vs 60.0%, and 81.6% vs 44.7%, respectively. For minimize 1-year cardiac events, the optimal cut-off value for more than 30% of disease prevalence was 0.80. However, the optimal cut-off value for 20, 25, and 30% was 0.54 in any cases. After the adjustment of CT-FFR using a formula of 0.3X + 0.634 for CT-FFR < 0.7 to counteract its underestimation, the % reduction of the events for 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40% at a 0.80 cut-off were 19.0%, 15.6%, 12.6%, 10.0%, and 7.7% respectively. It was reasonable to support that the optimal cut-off value was 0.80 in disease prevalence of more than 30% for minimize 1-year cardiac events. However, underestimation should be adjusted to reduce cardiac events, especially when disease prevalence is low.

The co-existence of expansive arterial remodelling in both coronary arteries (CAs) and the abdominal aorta has already been reported, although the clinical indicators and quantitative analysis have not been well studied. We therefore aimed to clarify the clinical and anatomical characteristics of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). 123 AAA patients who underwent coronary angiography were compared to 123 control patients selected by propensity score matching. CA diameters of all 3 vessels were measured by quantitative coronary angiographic analysis. Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) was defined as local or generalized aneurysmal change of the CAs. Excessive expansive CA remodelling was defined as the maximal diameter of the right or left circumflex artery in the upper 75th percentile (>4.8 mm). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine predictors of CAE and excessive expansive CA remodelling. The prevalences of CAE and excessive expansive CA remodelling were significantly higher in the AAA group than in the non-AAA group (28% vs. 8% and 31% vs. 19%; both p<0.05). On multivariable analysis, the presence of AAA (odds ratio (OR), 4.56; 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) 2.18-10.4) and body mass index (BMI) (OR, 1.11; 95%CI 1.03-1.21) were independently associated with CAE, and higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (OR, 2.19; 95%CI 1.08-4.52) and BMI (OR, 1.11; 95%CI 1.02-1.21) were independently associated with excessive expansive CA remodelling. In conclusions, this study showed a higher prevalence of ectatic CA disease in AAA patients and suggests that higher inflammation and obesity are associated with expansive arterial remodelling in coronary arteries., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Aims: We evaluated diagnostic accuracy of CT-fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) computed on-site with a new vendor workstation, against invasive FFR as the reference standard., Methods and Results: Retrospective analyses compared CT-FFR of 104 vessels with 30-90% diameter stenosis in 75 patients imaged using single-rotation 320 detector-row coronary CT angiography (CCTA) with invasive FFR performed within 90 days. Prospective ECG-gated CCTA included exposure of 70-99% of the R-R interval. CT-FFR was computed on-site within the same physical space as the CT scanner and reading room. The diagnostic accuracy of CCTA >50% and CT-FFR ≤0.8 to detect hemodynamically significant stenosis, defined as FFR ≤0.8, was determined, as was the correlation of CT-FFR to FFR and instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR). Forty-four vessels (42.3%) had an invasive FFR ≤0.8. The sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive value of CT-FFR ≤0.8 vs. CCTA >50% to detect hemodynamically significant stenosis defined as FFR ≤0.8 were 90.9% vs. 70.5%, 78.3% vs. 43.3%, 75.5% vs. 47.7%, and 92.2% vs. 66.7%, respectively. Area under the curve of CT-FFR was significantly higher than CCTA >50% [0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.76-0.91 vs. 0.57, 95% CI: 0.47-0.67; P < 0.0001]. The correlation coefficient between CT-FFR and iFR was r = 0.62 (95% CI: 0.40-0.77, P < 0.0001) and that between CT-FFR and invasive FFR was r = 0.52 (95% CI: 0.28-0.70, P = 0.0001). CT-FFR inter- and intra-observer correlations were excellent (r = 0.83 and r = 0.82, respectively)., Conclusion: Locally computed CT-FFR based on fluid structure interaction has excellent diagnostic accuracy to detect a significant FFR ≤0.8 compared with conventional CCTA and high reproducibility., (Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author(s) 2018. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of computed tomography (CT)-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR) determined on site by inexperienced observers using a postprocessing software based on structural and fluid analysis., Methods: Using 21 coronary vessels in 7 patients who underwent 320-row coronary CT angiography and catheter-FFR, 2 independent inexperienced observers (A: a student radiation technologist; B: a nonmedical staff) determined the CT-FFR using a postprocessing software. After a 20-minute training session, both observers postprocessed all vessels and readjusted their settings after another training/feedback. These CT-FFRs were compared with values determined by an expert analyst., Results: The mean processing times were 23 ± 4 minutes (automatic), 71 ± 5 minutes (observer A), and 57 ± 7 minutes (observer B) per patient. The initial correlations with expert data were r = 0.92 (observer A) and 0.73 (observer B) and increased to 0.83 for observer B after additional training. The final absolute difference with the expert data was 0.000 to 0.020. The correlation between catheter-FFR and expert CT-FFR was r = 0.76., Conclusions: The CT-derived FFR on-site postprocessing software showed good reproducibility for measurements by inexperienced observers.

Aim: Current Japanese guidelines state the target level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of <100mg/dL for secondary prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, this level was set considering the results of trials mainly conducted in Western countries. In addition, the effect of achieving target LDL-C on secondary prevention is unknown., Methods: We examined the effects of achieving target LDL-C on clinical outcomes. Patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention at Juntendo University Hospital (Tokyo, Japan) from 2004 to 2010 and received follow-up coronary angiography (CAG) were analyzed. The study population was divided into two groups based on the follow-up LDL-C. The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events within 3 years after the follow-up CAG was examined., Results: A total of 1321 consecutive patients were enrolled. Sixty-three percent of the patients achieved the target LDL-C. The rate of 3-year events was lower in the group that achieved the target LDL-C (achieved group). The adjusted relative risk reduction in the achieved group was 26% (p=0.02). In the sub-analysis among the four groups stratified by baseline LDL-C of 140 and follow-up LDL-C of 100, the adjusted hazard ratio for 3-year events was 1.84 (95% confidence interval; 1.10-3.24)in Group 3 (baseline <140, follow-up ≥100) and 2.05 (1.18-3.74) Group 4 (baseline ≥140, follow-up ≥100) [Group 2 (baseline ≥140, follow-up <100) as reference]., Conclusions: Our data suggested that follow-up LDL-C <100mg/dL was appropriate for secondary prevention of CAD in Japanese population.

Few studies have investigated the clinical outcomes of rotational atherectomy (RA) prior to and during the drugeluting stent (DES) era. The goal of this study was to assess the long-term outcome after RA followed by DES and bare metal stent (BMS) implantation in complex calcified coronary lesions and to compare the outcomes among various DESs.This was a single center retrospective observational study. Consecutive 406 patients who underwent elective RA followed by BMS or DES implantation at our institution from 2001 to 2011 were included. This study compared the long-term outcomes after treatment with RA among BMS and 3 different DESs (sirolimus-eluting stent, paclitaxel-eluting stent, and everolimus-eluting stent) implantation.The mean follow-up period was 4.6 years. Patients with DES were older and exhibited more vessel disease, longer lesion length, and smaller vessel size. Patients with BMS had a significantly higher rate of target lesion revascularization, restenosis, and larger late lumen loss than those with DES. Composite events including mortality, ACS, and target vessel revascularization were significantly higher in the BMS-RA group than in the DES-RA group. After adjustment, BMS remained an independent predictor of MACE and ACS plus death in patients treated with RA. However, there were no significant differences in late lumen loss, restenosis rate, and MACE among the 3 DES.The combination of DES-RA has a favorable effect in both the angiographic and clinical outcomes compared with BMS-RA. However, no significant differences in late loss and events rates were observed among the 3 DES groups.

Background: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) has been proposed as an inflammatory marker of cardiovascular disease. The present study investigates associations between Lp-PLA2 and other important biomarkers in Japanese patients with coronary artery disease., Methods: We measured Lp-PLA2 levels in 141 consecutive patients (age 62.6 ± 3.8 years; men 69.2%) with angiographic evidence of coronary artery disease (acute coronary syndrome [ACS]; n = 38), stable angina pectoris (SAP; n = 72) or with angiographically normal coronary arteries (NCA; n = 31)., Results: Levels of Lp-PLA2 significantly correlated with low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (r = 0.302), homocysteine (r = 0.528) and paraoxonase (r = 0.401) in all patients (all P < 0.01). Levels of Lp-PLA2 were significantly higher in patients with coronary atherosclerosis (ACS and SAP) than with NCA (P < 0.05). Levels of highly sensitive C-reactive protein were significantly higher in patients with ACS than with SAP and NCA (both P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that higher Lp-PLA2 levels were independently associated with coronary atherosclerosis (odds ratio: 1.058; 95% confidence interval: 1.012-1.121; P = 0.001)., Conclusions: Higher Lp-PLA2 levels are associated with coronary atherosclerosis independently of traditional coronary risk factors. Thus, Lp-PLA2 is a novel biomarker of coronary atherosclerosis in Japanese patients.

Background: In-stent restenosis (ISR) after bare-metal stent (BMS) implantation is thought to be clinically benign, although this notion remains controversial. The long-term clinical outcomes of ISR with BMS have not been established., Methods and Results: Among 983 consecutive patients (1,227 lesions) implanted with a BMS between 1999 and 2004 at the authors' institution, 746 underwent routine follow-up angiography. Angiographic ISR (ISR group) was evident in 215 patients (28.8%) and 136 of them underwent repeat revascularization. The incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), acute coronary syndrome (ACS), target lesion revascularization and all-cause death were evaluated between patients with and without ISR (non-ISR group). Patients in the ISR group were older and more likely to have diabetes. The median follow-up period was 2,031 days. The rates of MACE and ACS were significantly higher in the ISR group compared with the non-ISR group (33.5% vs. 13.7%, P<0.0001 and 11.2% vs. 7.0%, P<0.05, respectively). Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that ISR was significantly associated with clinical outcomes (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] for MACE, 2.81; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.01-3.94, P<0.01; adjusted HR for ACS, 1.84; 95%CI: 1.08-3.13, P<0.05)., Conclusions: ISR with BMS was significantly associated with long-term adverse clinical outcomes. Risk of future cardiovascular events due to ISR must be carefully considered.

Background: Usefulness and efficacy of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) for the implantation of sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) is controversial. We investigated the primary and mid-term results of SES deployment with angiographic guidance comparing with IVUS guidance, retrospectively., Methods and Results: SESs were deployed in 480 de novo lesions of 459 patients (341 lesions treated without IVUS and 139 lesions treated using IVUS); 368 lesions underwent follow-up coronary angiography. Late luminal loss, in-stent restenosis (ISR) rate and target lesion revascularization (TLR) rate were not significantly different between the non-IVUS group and the IVUS group. There was no acute thrombosis or other major adverse cardiac events except for TLR in both groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that SES implantation without IVUS was not an independent risk factor for restenosis. On the other hand, in one case, target-vessel revascularization was difficult because of the mal-apposition of the SES previously implanted without IVUS., Conclusions: For lesions for which stent size and endpoint are decided from angiographic information alone, angio-guided SES implantation is safe and provides a good mid-term outcome that is comparable to the IVUS-guided SES stent deployment., while IVUS may be helpful to decide stent size for complex lesions and reduce possible complications.

Background Lipid-rich plaques (LRP) in the non-culprit lesions (NCL) in patients with the acute coronary syndrome may trigger lesion-related, adverse cardiovascular events. Aggressive lipid-lowering therapy may stabilize LRP; however, the times of stabilization remain undefined. Case summary A 60-year-old man presented with unstable angina. Coronary angiography revealed a severely stenotic lesion (culprit lesion) in the left descending artery, and another non-obstructive lesion in the distal left main trunk artery. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) imaging showed LRP with a maximum lipid core burden index (LCBI)4mm of 422. Optical coherence tomographic (OCT) imaging showed the vulnerable plaque as a thin cap fibroatheroma with a thickness of 50 µm. We prescribed aggressive lipid-lowering treatment with a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor, and serially observed this lesion for 24 months. The NIRS imaging showed that the LCBI gradually decreased over time (max LCBI4mm of 422, 417, 318, 265, and 106 conducted at index percutaneous coronary intervention, 3, 8, 12, and 24 months, respectively). As plaque regression and stabilization of high-risk LRP were observed, we promptly discontinued treatment with the PCSK9i inhibitor. Discussion During the long-term, 24-month, follow-up using serial NIRS–IVUS imaging, we observed the gradual decrease in LCBI over time, due to aggressive lipid-lowering therapy. Compared with the lowering of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the stabilization of vulnerable plaques may require longer times of about 2 years. Evaluation of NCL-related adverse cardiac events by serial intravascular imaging over time, using NIRS–IVUS or OCT, may be warranted in such cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is closely associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular dis-ease. However, whether patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and CKD are at increased risk for long-term mortality after coronary revascularization remains unknown. Methods and results: Data from consecutive patients with ACS who had undergone coronary revasculari-zation, including percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) were analyzed. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the current Japanese equation and CKD was defined as eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Among 375 enrolled patients with ACS, 75 (20.0%) had CKD. During a follow-up period of 10.0± 3.4 years, the total number of deaths was 80 (21.3%), of which 36 (9.6%) were due to cardiovascular causes. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the presence of CKD was associated with a significant increase in mortality from all causes (log-rank test, p< 0.001) and cardiovascular mortality (p < 0.001). Cox proportional-hazard analysis revealed that CKD increased the risk of mortality with a hazard ratio of 2.31 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.25-4.29, p = 0.008) and of cardiovascular death with a hazard ratio of 3.76 (95% CI: 1.60-8.80, p = 0.002) in patients with ACS. Conclusions: CKD is a powerful determinant of long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality after ACS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although on-site workstation-based CT fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) is an emerging method for assessing vessel-specific ischemia in coronary artery disease, severe calcification is a significant factor affecting CT-FFR's diagnostic performance. The subtraction method significantly improves the diagnostic value with respect to anatomic stenosis for patients with severe calcification in coronary CT angiography (CCTA). We evaluated the diagnostic capability of CT-FFR using the subtraction method (subtraction CT-FFR) in patients with severe calcification. This study included 32 patients with 45 lesions with severe calcification (Agatston score >400) who underwent both CCTA and subtraction CCTA using 320-row area detector CT and also received invasive FFR within 90 days. The diagnostic capabilities of CT-FFR and subtraction CT-FFR were compared. The sensitivities, specificities, positive predictive values (PPVs), and negative predictive values (NPVs) of CT-FFR vs. subtraction CT-FFR for detecting hemodynamically significant stenosis, defined as FFR ≤ 0.8, were 84.6% vs. 92.3%, 59.4% vs. 75.0%, 45.8% vs. 60.0%, and 90.5% vs. 96.0%, respectively. The area under the curve for subtraction CT-FFR was significantly higher than for CT-FFR (0.84 vs. 0.70) (p = 0.04). The inter-observer and intra-observer variabilities of subtraction CT-FFR were 0.76 and 0.75, respectively. In patients with severe calcification, subtraction CT-FFR had an incremental diagnostic value over CT-FFR, increasing the specificity and PPV while maintaining the sensitivity and NPV with high reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Anemia is known to be associated with mortality in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, the impact of temporal change in anemia on prognosis is not fully elucidated. Methods: We prospectively enrolled consecutive 4589 patients undergoing PCI from January 2000 to December 2016. Among them, patients, whose hemoglobin (Hb) level at PCI procedure (baseline) and follow-up coronary angiography (CAG, 6-12 months after PCI), were subjected to the study (n=1832). Patients were divided into 4 groups based on baseline and follow-up Hb level, such as anemia (-) to (-) (n=1122), anemia (-) to (+) (n=171), anemia (+) to (-) (n=159) and anemia (+) to (+) (n=380). Median follow-up period was 5.8±3.7 years. Results: Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with persistent anemia, who had anemia at both baseline PCI and follow-up coronary angiogram (anemia (+) to (+)), had highest mortality rate, while survival rate in patients with recovered anemia (anemia (+) to (-)) was similar in patients without baseline anemia (anemia (-) to (-)) (p=0.01, anemia (+) to (+) vs. anemia (+) to (-)) (Figure). Adjusted Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that persistent anemia was an independent risk for all-cause mortality (Hazard-Ratio: 1.81, 95% confidential interval: 1.35-2.47, p=0.001). Conclusions: Persistent anemia, continuous anemia at PCI and 6-12 months later, is strongly associated with higher all-cause mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]