Residual plaque burden in patients with acute coronary syndromes after successful percutaneous coronary intervention

Objectives: The aim of this study was to characterize and evaluate the clinical impact of untreated atherosclerotic disease after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Background: Residual atherosclerotic disease after successful PCI may predispose future major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Compared with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), angiography underestimates the presence and severity of coronary artery disease. Methods: Following successful PCI of all clinically significant lesions in 697 patients with ACS, 3-vessel grayscale and radiofrequency IVUS was performed. Lesions were prospectively characterized, and patients were followed for a median of 3.4 years. A total of 3,229 untreated lesions (4.89 ± 1.98 lesions/patient) were identified by IVUS, with mean plaque burden (PB) of 49.6 ± 4.2%. Results: By angiography these nonculprit lesions were mild, with mean diameter stenosis of 38.9 ± 15.3%. At least 1 lesion with a PB <70% (PB70 lesion) was found in 220 (33%) patients. By multivariable analysis, a history of prior PCI and angiographic 3-vessel disease were independent predictors of PB70 lesions. Patients with PB70 lesions had greater total percent plaque volume, normalized PB, fibroatheromas, thin-cap fibroatheromas, and normalized volumes of necrotic core and dense calcium. Patients with PB70 lesions had greater 3-year rates of MACE due to untreated nonculprit lesions (20.8% vs. 7.7%, p < 0.0001). Among imaged nonculprit lesions, the proportion of PB70 lesions causing MACE was significantly greater than non-PB70 lesions (8.7% vs. 1.0%, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: After successful PCI of all angiographically significant lesions, overall untreated atherosclerotic burden remains high, and PB70 lesions are frequently present in the proximal and mid-coronary tree. Patients with PB70 lesions have greater atherosclerosis throughout the coronary tree, have more thin-cap fibroatheromas, and are at increased risk for future cardiovascular events. (PROSPECT: An Imaging Study in Patients With Unstable Atherosclerotic Lesions; NCT00180466

Consensus standards for acquisition, measurement, and reporting of intravascular optical coherence tomography studies

Objectives: The purpose of this document is to make the output of the International Working Group for Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography (IWG-IVOCT) Standardization and Validation available to medical and scientific communities, through a peer-reviewed publication, in the interest of improving the diagnosis and treatment of patients with atherosclerosis, including coronary artery disease. Background: Intravascular optical coherence tomography (IVOCT) is a catheter-based modality that acquires images at a resolution of ∼10 μm, enabling visualization of blood vessel wall microstructure in vivo at an unprecedented level of detail. IVOCT devices are now commercially available worldwide, there is an active user base, and the interest in using this technology is growing. Incorporation of IVOCT in research and daily clinical practice can be facilitated by the development of uniform terminology and consensus-based standards on use of the technology, interpretation of the images, and reporting of IVOCT results. Methods: The IWG-IVOCT, comprising more than 260 academic and industry members from Asia, Europe, and the United States, formed in 2008 and convened on the topic of IVOCT standardization through a series of 9 national and international meetings. Results: Knowledge and recommendations from this group on key areas within the IVOCT field were assembled to generate this consensus document, authored by the Writing Committee, composed of academicians who have participated in meetings and/or writing of the text. Conclusions: This document may be broadly used as a standard reference regarding the current state of the IVOCT imaging modality, intended for researchers and clinicians who use IVOCT and analyze IVOCT data

Drug-Eluting Stents in the Treatment of Intermediate Lesions Pooled Analysis From Four Randomized Trials

ObjectivesTo address the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents (DES) in the treatment of intermediate lesions, we performed a pooled analysis of four randomized DES versus bare-metal stent (BMS) trials and assessed outcomes among patients with intermediate lesions.BackgroundBefore the introduction of DES, intermediate coronary lesions were commonly managed based on physiologic or anatomic assessment of lesion severity. The DES may challenge this paradigm.MethodsThe study population involved 167 of 2,478 randomized patients (6.7%) with intermediate lesions (diameter stenosis <50% [mean 44%] by quantitative coronary angiography) from the Sirolimus-coated Bx Velocity Balloon Expandable Stent in the Treatment of Patients with De Novo Coronary Artery Lesions (SIRIUS), TAXUS-IV, and the First and Second First Use to Underscore Restenosis Reduction with Everolimus (FUTURE-I and -II) trials. End points examined included early (in-hospital and 30-day) and late (1-year) major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR), stent thrombosis, and follow-up angiographic restenosis.ResultsPatients with intermediate lesions randomized to DES versus BMS had low rates of 30-day MACE (1.1% vs. 4.0% respectively; p = 0.22). At one-year follow-up, patients treated with DES versus BMS had similar rates of cardiac death (0% vs. 2.7%, respectively; p = 0.11) and MI (3.4% vs. 5.4%; p = 0.49) but markedly lower rates of TVR (3.4% vs. 20.3%; p = 0.0004), MACE (5.6% vs. 25.4%; p = 0.0003), and binary angiographic restenosis (1.8% vs. 34.0%; p < 0.0001). No patient in either group developed stent thrombosis.ConclusionsCompared with BMS, treatment of intermediate lesions with DES appears safe and results in a marked reduction in clinical and angiographic restenosis. The efficacy of DES may require a reevaluation of current treatment paradigms for intermediate lesions

Incidence, determinants and clinical impact of definite stent thrombosis on mortality in women: From the WIN-DES collaborative patient-level pooled analysis.

BACKGROUND Predictors and clinical outcomes of stent thrombosis (ST) in women have not been well investigated. Present study aimed to identify predictors of definite ST and its impact on mortality in women undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS Patient-level data of women enrolled in 26 randomized trials of DES was pooled. The study population was stratified based on the presence or absence of definite ST. Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the predictors of definite ST. To analyze the temporal impact of definite ST on mortality Cox regression with ST entered as time-updated covariate was used. RESULTS Of 11,557 patients undergoing PCI with stent implantation, definite ST occurred in 105 patients (0.9%) over median follow-up of 3years. Independent predictors of ST were age (HR 1.03 per year decrease, 95% CI 1.00-1.05; p=0.041), diabetes mellitus (HR 2.25, 95% CI 1.27-3.99; p=0.005), non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) at presentation (HR 1.97, 95% CI 1.04-3.75; p=0.037) and stent diameter (HR 3.76 per mm decrease, 95% CI 1.66-8.53; p=0.002). Compared to women without ST, the adjusted hazard ratios for mortality in the first 7days, 8-30days, and beyond 30days from ST were 115.81 (95% CI 68.96-194.47); 37.44 (95% CI 17.31-80.98); 3.54 (95% CI 2.20-5.69), respectively. CONCLUSIONS In this large-scale pooled analysis of women, definite ST was uncommon yet associated with substantial mortality risk, which peaked early and rapidly attenuated over time. Younger age, diabetes, NSTEMI and stent diameter were found to be predictors of ST

Collagenase to facilitate guidewire crossing in chronic total occlusion PCI—The Total Occlusion Study in Coronary Arteries-5 (TOSCA-5) trial

Background: Chronic total occlusions (CTO) are common and are associated with lower percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) success rates, often due to failure of antegrade guidewire crossing. Local, intralesional delivery of collagenase (MZ-004) may facilitate guidewire crossing in CTO. Aims: To evaluate the effect of MZ-004 in facilitating antegrade wire crossing in CTO angioplasty. Methods: A total of 76 patients undergoing CTO PCI were enrolled at 13 international sites: 38 in the randomized training stage (collagenase [MZ-004] 900 or 1200 μg) and 38 in the placebo-controlled stage (MZ-004 900 or 1200 μg or placebo). Patients received the MZ-004 or identical volume saline (placebo group) in a double-blind design, injected via microcatheter directly into the proximal cap of the CTO. The following day patients underwent CTO PCI using antegrade wire techniques only. Results: Patients were generally similar except for a trend for higher Japanese chronic total occlusion (J-CTO) score in the MZ-004 group (MZ-004 J-CTO score 1.9 vs. 1.4, p = 0.07). There was a numerical increase in the rates of guidewire crossing in the MZ-004 groups compared to placebo (74% vs. 63%, p = 0.52). Guidewire crossing with a soft-tip guidewire (≤1.5 g tip load) was significantly higher in the MZ-004 groups (0% in placebo, 17% in 900 μg, and 29% in 1200 μg MZ-004 group, p = 0.03). Rates of the major adverse cardiovascular event were similar between groups. Conclusion: Local delivery of MZ-004 into coronary CTOs appears safe and may facilitate CTO crossing, particularly with softer tipped guidewires. These data support the development of a pivotal trial to further evaluate this agent

Impact of intravascular ultrasound imaging on early and late clinical outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents

This study sought to assess the impact of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided versus angiography-guided drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. There are limited data on IVUS guidance in the DES era. Therefore, we investigated the impact of IVUS guidance on clinical outcomes in the MATRIX (Comprehensive Assessment of Sirolimus-Eluting Stents in Complex Lesions) registry. The MATRIX registry prospectively enrolled consecutive, unselected patients treated with sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) (n = 1,504); 631 patients (42%) underwent IVUS-guided stenting, and 873 (58%) had only angiographic guidance. We assessed 30-day, 1-year, and 2-year rates of death/myocardial infarction (MI), major adverse cardiac events (cardiac death, MI, or target vessel revascularization), and definite/probable stent thrombosis in 548 propensity-score matched patient pairs. After matching, baseline and angiographic characteristics were similar in IVUS and no-IVUS groups. Patients in the IVUS group had significantly less death/MI at 30 days (1.5% vs. 4.6%, p < 0.01), 1 year (3.3% vs. 6.5%, p < 0.01), and 2 years (5.0% vs. 8.8%, p < 0.01). Patients in the IVUS group had significantly less major adverse cardiac events at 30 days (2.2% vs. 4.8%, p = 0.04) and numerically less major adverse cardiac events at 1 year (9.1% vs. 13.5%, p = 0.07) and 2 years (12.9% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.18). Rates of MI were significantly lower in the IVUS group at 30 days (1.5% vs. 4.0%, p < 0.01), 1 year (1.8% vs. 4.8%, p < 0.01), and 2 years (2.1% vs. 5.7%, p < 0.01). IVUS-guided stent implantation appears to be associated with a reduction in both early and long-term clinical events. Further investigation in randomized controlled trials is warrante

Impact of intravascular ultrasound imaging on early and late clinical outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents

This study sought to assess the impact of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided versus angiography-guided drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. There are limited data on IVUS guidance in the DES era. Therefore, we investigated the impact of IVUS guidance on clinical outcomes in the MATRIX (Comprehensive Assessment of Sirolimus-Eluting Stents in Complex Lesions) registry. The MATRIX registry prospectively enrolled consecutive, unselected patients treated with sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) (n = 1,504); 631 patients (42%) underwent IVUS-guided stenting, and 873 (58%) had only angiographic guidance. We assessed 30-day, 1-year, and 2-year rates of death/myocardial infarction (MI), major adverse cardiac events (cardiac death, MI, or target vessel revascularization), and definite/probable stent thrombosis in 548 propensity-score matched patient pairs. After matching, baseline and angiographic characteristics were similar in IVUS and no-IVUS groups. Patients in the IVUS group had significantly less death/MI at 30 days (1.5% vs. 4.6%, p < 0.01), 1 year (3.3% vs. 6.5%, p < 0.01), and 2 years (5.0% vs. 8.8%, p < 0.01). Patients in the IVUS group had significantly less major adverse cardiac events at 30 days (2.2% vs. 4.8%, p = 0.04) and numerically less major adverse cardiac events at 1 year (9.1% vs. 13.5%, p = 0.07) and 2 years (12.9% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.18). Rates of MI were significantly lower in the IVUS group at 30 days (1.5% vs. 4.0%, p < 0.01), 1 year (1.8% vs. 4.8%, p < 0.01), and 2 years (2.1% vs. 5.7%, p < 0.01). IVUS-guided stent implantation appears to be associated with a reduction in both early and long-term clinical events. Further investigation in randomized controlled trials is warrante

2-Year Outcomes After Stenting of Lipid-Rich and Nonrich Coronary Plaques.

BACKGROUND: Autopsy studies suggest that implanting stents in lipid-rich plaque (LRP) may be associated with adverse outcomes. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between LRP detected by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease treated with contemporary drug-eluting stents. METHODS: In this prospective, multicenter registry, NIRS was performed in patients undergoing coronary angiography and possible percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Lipid core burden index (LCBI) was calculated as the fraction of pixels with the probability of LRP \u3e0.6 within a region of interest. MaxLCBI RESULTS: Among 1,999 patients who were enrolled in the COLOR (Chemometric Observations of Lipid Core Plaques of Interest in Native Coronary Arteries Registry), PCI was performed in 1,621 patients and MACE occurred in 18.0% of patients, of which 8.3% were culprit lesion-related, 10.7% were nonculprit lesion-related, and 3.1% were indeterminate during 2-year follow-up. Complications from NIRS imaging occurred in 9 patients (0.45%), which resulted in 1 peri-procedural myocardial infarction and 1 emergent coronary bypass. Pre-PCI NIRS imaging was obtained in 1,189 patients, and the 2-year rate of culprit lesion-related MACE was not significantly associated with maxLCBI CONCLUSIONS: Following PCI with contemporary drug-eluting stents, stent implantation in NIRS-defined LRPs was not associated with increased periprocedural or late adverse outcomes compared with those without significant lipid

Age- and gender-related changes in plaque composition in patients with acute coronary syndrome: The PROSPECT study

Aims: Atherosclerosis accelerates with increasing age; however, young women presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) have adverse outcomes compared to men despite less obstructive coronary artery disease. We sought to evaluate the in vivo plaque characteristics and composition of untreated non-culprit lesions (NCL) at two ages (<65 years old and ≥65 years old) in patients with ACS and examine the effect of sex in both groups. Methods and results: Untreated NCLs from 697 patients with ACS were imaged with greyscale and radiofrequency intravascular ultrasound. NCL plaque morphology, burden, composition, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were analysed in both age groups, and a posterior sex-based sub-analysis was performed. Plaques from patients ≥65 (n=974) vs. <65 (n=2,275) years old were longer (median 12.62 mm vs. 10.75 mm, p=0.008) and had greater plaque burden (48.2% vs. 47.5%, p=0.001), necrotic core (12.5% vs. 11.0%, p=0.001) and dense calcium (5.7% vs. 4.0%, p<0.0001). Men <65 years old also had a greater number of fibroatheromas (3.0 vs. 2.0, p=0.007) and NCLs per patient (5.0 vs. 4.0, p=0.004) with larger plaque volumes (47.7% vs. 46.8%, p=0.04), and fewer fibrotic plaques (2.2% vs. 4.4%, p=0.03) than women in the same age group. These sex differences were not observed in patients ≥65 years old. The incidence of MACE during median 3.4 year follow-up did not significantly differ according to age in this study. Conclusions: The current study confirms in vivo that, with aging, plaque burden, necrotic core and calcium content increase significantly. Moreover, gender-specific differences in the extent and composition of coronary plaque are present in patients <65 years (but not ≥65 years) of age, which suggest differential sex-related effects on atherosclerosis development and progression