Determinants of high cardiovascular risk in relation to plaque-composition of a non-culprit coronary segment visualized by near-infrared spectroscopy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between clinical and blood characteristics of a vascular inflammatory milieu and coronary plaque composition visualized by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients. Between April 2009 and January 2011, we performed NIRS in 208 patients who underwent PCI or invasive diagnostic coronary exploration for various indications. Imaging was performed of one non-intervened coronary segment after the initial procedure. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were applied to evaluate the relationship between the acquired NIRS-derived lipid core burden index (LCBI) and clinical and blood (lipids and hs-C-reactive protein) characteristics. Patients with a history of hypercholesterolaemia [median 48 (inter-quartile range 21101) vs. 38 (1370), P 0.043] and multi-vessel disease [55 (24104) vs. 32 (1271), P 0.012] had higher LCBI levels. Men had higher LCBI than women [48 (2195) vs. 27 (959), P 0.003]. Hypercholesterolaemia and gender remained significant in multivariate regression analysis, whereas also a history of non-cardiac vascular disease and beta-blockers were positively associated with LCBI. Altogether 23.2 of the variability in LCBI could be explained by clinical and blood characteristics. Clinical characteristics reflecting patients with a high cardiovascular risk profile explained 23.2 of the variability in LCBI, whereas blood biomarkers added little. Further research is warranted to evaluate whether NIRS has the potential to provide additional prognostic information about patients cardiovascular risk

Near-infrared spectroscopy-derived lipid core burden index predicts adverse cardiovascular outcome in patients with coronary artery disease during long-term follow-up

Aims: Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is able to quantify cholesterol within coronary arteries by the lipid core burden index (LCBI). We studied the prognostic value of NIRS-derived LCBI in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) for adverse cardiac outcome during long-term follow-up. Methods and results: During 2009-2013, NIRS was performed in a non-culprit artery of 275 patients undergoing coronary angiography for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or stable angina. LCBI was quantified by an independent corelab for the region of interest (LCBIROI) and the 4 and 10 mm long segment with the maximum LCBI (MaxLCBI4mm and MaxLCBI10mm). The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as the composite of all-cause death, non-fatal ACS, or unplanned revascularization. Hazard ratios (HR) were adjusted for age, gender, clinical risk factors, and segment plaque burden based on intravascular ultrasound. During a median follow-up of 4.1 years, 79 patients (28.7%) had MACE. There was a statistically significant and independent continuous relationship between higher MaxLCBI4mm values and a higher risk of MACE. Each 100 units increase of MaxLCBI4mm was associated with a 19% increase in MACE [hazard ratios (HR) 1.19, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI): 1.07-1.32, P = 0.001]. Continuous MaxLCBI4mm remained independently associated with MACE after exclusion of target lesion-related events (HR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.08-1.35), as well as after exclusion of adverse events related to the NIRS-imaged coronary segment (HR 1.19, 95% CI: 1.06-1.34). Results for MaxLCBI10mm were comparable. Conclusion: NIRS-derived LCBI is associated with adverse cardiac outcome in CAD patients during long-term follow-up independent of clinical risk factors and plaque burden

Intravascular ultrasound radiofrequency analysis after optimal coronary stenting with initial quantitative coronary angiography guidance: an ATHEROREMO sub-study

Aims: To investigate whether the use of intravascular ultrasound virtual histology (IVUS-VH) leads to any improvements in stent deployment, when performed in patients considered to have had an optimal percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by quantitative coronary angiography (QCA). Methods and results: After optimal PCI result (residual stenosis by QCA <30%), IVUS-VH was performed in 100 patients by protocol, with the option to use the information left to the discretion of the operators. Patients were categorised as: Group1 (n=54), where the IVUS-VH findings were used to evaluate the need for further optimisation of the stent deployment; and Group2 (n=46), where the IVUS-VH was documentary such that the stenting results were considered optimal according to QCA. Optimal stent deployment on IVUS-VH was defined as: normal stent expansion, absence of stent malapposition, complete lesion coverage as indicated by a plaque burden (PB%) between 30-40% and necrotic core confluent to the lumen <10% or PB%<30% at the 5 mm proximal and distal to the stent. The first IVUS-VH in all patients demonstrated the achievement of optimal stent deployment, incomplete lesion coverage, stent under-expansion and stent-edge dissection in 60%, 31%, 20% and 8% of patients, respectively. There was no stent malapposition. In Group 1, 25 patients had optimal stent deployment and did not require further intervention, whilst in 29 patients further intervention was needed (additional stent, n= 18; post-dilatation, n=29). Overall optimal stent deployment was finally achieved in 52/54 patients (96%) in Group 1 and 35/46 (76%) of Group 2, p<0.05. Conclusions: IVUS-VH may have a role in facilitating optimal stent implantation and complete lesion coverage