Angiographic correlations of patients with small vessel disease diagnosed by adenosine-stress cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) with adenosine-stress myocardial perfusion is gaining importance for the detection and quantification of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, there is little knowledge about patients with CMR-detected ischemia, but having no relevant stenosis as seen on coronary angiography (CA). The aims of our study were to characterize these patients by CMR and CA and evaluate correlations and potential reasons for the ischemic findings. 73 patients with an indication for CA were first scanned on a 1.5T whole-body CMR-scanner including adenosine-stress first-pass perfusion. The images were analyzed by two independent investigators for myocardial perfusion which was classified as subendocardial ischemia (n = 22), no perfusion deficit (n = 27, control 1), or more than subendocardial ischemia (n = 24, control 2). All patients underwent CA, and a highly significant correlation between the classification of CMR perfusion deficit and the degree of coronary luminal narrowing was found. For quantification of coronary blood flow, corrected Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) frame count (TFC) was evaluated for the left anterior descending (LAD), circumflex (LCX) and right coronary artery (RCA). The main result was that corrected TFC in all coronaries was significantly increased in study patients compared to both control 1 and to control 2 patients. Study patients had hypertension or diabetes more often than control 1 patients. In conclusion, patients with CMR detected subendocardial ischemia have prolonged coronary blood flow. In connection with normal resting flow values in CAD, this supports the hypothesis of underlying coronary microvascular impairment. CMR stress perfusion differentiates non-invasively between this entity and relevant CAD

Characterization of Plaque Prolapse After Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation in Diabetic Patients A Three-Dimensional Volumetric Intravascular Ultrasound Outcome Study

ObjectivesThe aim of this research was to evaluate the plaque prolapse (PP) phenomenon after bare-metal (BMS) and drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in patients with diabetes mellitus using 3-dimensional volumetric intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).BackgroundPlaque prolapse has been observed in up to 22% of patients treated with BMS. Diabetic patients have a larger atherothrombotic burden and may be more prone to have PP. However, the incidence of PP and its clinical impact after DES implantation is unknown.MethodsThree-dimensional IVUS was performed after intervention and at 9-month follow-up in 168 patients with diabetes (205 lesions) treated with bare BX Velocity stents ((BX Velocity/Sonic, Cordis, Johnson & Johnson) (BMS, n = 65), sirolimus-eluting stents (Cypher, Cordis) (SES, n = 69), and paclitaxel-eluting stents (Taxus, Boston Scientific, Natick, Massachusetts) (PES, n = 71). Intravascular ultrasound data at the sites of PP were compared with stented segments without PP in each lesion. Outcomes were evaluated at 9- and 12-month follow-up.ResultsThere were 42 sites of PP (BMS = 11, SES = 11, PES = 20, p = NS) in 34 stented segments of 205 (16.6%) lesions. Plaque prolapse was more frequent in the right coronary artery and in chronic total occlusion lesions. Post-procedure PP volume was 1.95 mm3in BMS, 2.96 mm3in SES, and 4.53 mm3in PES. At follow-up, tissue volume increased at PP sites in both BMS and PES, but not after SES. Neointimal proliferation was similar between PP and non-PP sites. Stent thrombosis and restenosis rates were similar between PP and non-PP lesions.ConclusionsThe incidence of PP after implantation of new generation tubular stents in patients with diabetes remains high. Drug-eluting stent implantation was not associated with increased risk of PP. Plaque prolapse was not associated with stent thrombosis or increased neointimal proliferation