Accelerated progression of coronary calcification: four-year follow-up in patients with stable coronary artery disease

PURPOSE: To prospectively assess the 4-year progression rate of coronary artery calcium (CAC) in patients with clinically stable coronary artery disease (CAD) with multi-detector row computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 382 consecutive patients. All underwent baseline dual-sector spiral CT, and CT was repeated at 2 and 4 years later. Progression of CAC was assessed with measurement of the increase in total calcium score (TCS) and with repeated-measures analysis and multivariate linear regression models. Logistic regression model was used to predict incidence of new lesions. RESULTS: Eighty-seven percent (333 of 382) of the study group were men, with mean age of 65 years +/- 11, and 13% (49 of 382) were women, with mean age of 68 years +/- 11. The average TCS increased after 4 years by sixfold from baseline in the 1st quartile, and by four-, two- and 1.5-fold in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartiles of baseline TCS (P <.01), respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis included age; sex; natural logarithm of baseline TCS; history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, current smoking, hypercholesterolemia, and lipid-lowering therapy with cholesterol synthesis enzyme inhibitor (statin); and family history of premature CAD. Results demonstrated that natural logarithm of baseline TCS and history of current smoking were independent predictors of the 4th-year natural logarithm of TCS levels (R(2) = 0.85, P <.001). New lesions were diagnosed in 56 (15%) patients. History of statin therapy (odds ratio = 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.16, 0.77; P <.01), age with an increment of 5 years (odds ratio = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.64, 0.90; P =.01), and natural logarithm of baseline TCS (odds ratio = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.62, 0.86; P <.01) were independent predictors for new calcific lesions during 4 years. CONCLUSION: Accelerated progression of CAC during 4 years was found in clinically stable patients with CAD.     

SPECT and PET in the evaluation of coronary artery disease.

Cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) is an accurate method for assessing myocardial perfusion and metabolism in the evaluation of coronary heart disease. PET allows more accurate detection of myocardial ischemia than single photon emission tomography (SPECT). In addition, PET has higher spatial resolution and allows attenuation correction and the quantification of various physiologic parameters. PET with 2-(fluorine-18) fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose is considered the standard of reference for predicting improvement in regional or global left ventricular function after revascularization by identifying hibernating viable myocardium that shows diminished perfusion and preserved metabolism. Other less commonly used clinical applications of cardiac PET include assessment of myocardial oxygen consumption and fatty acid metabolism. The use of PET in myocardial imaging is expected to increase in the near future with the regional distribution of positron-emitting radiotracers and the emergence of relatively low-cost PET systems.     

Local thrombolytic therapy for superior mesenteric artery embolism: complications and long-term clinical follow-up.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness and complications of local intraarterial fibrinolysis in selected patients with superior mesenteric artery (SMA) embolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intraarterial thrombolytic therapy was performed for acute SMA embolism in eight patients. Patients were selected for thrombolytic therapy on the basis of absence of peritoneal signs of intestinal necrosis at physical examination and absent findings of bowel infarction by CT. RESULTS: Clinical success was achieved in five patients and technical success in six. Complications included death due to massive shower emboli from the left ventricle in one patient and extravasation in one patient, who required surgery on the following day. Within one month after thrombolytic therapy, one patient each died of myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction due to emboli, and one patient underwent aorto-SMA bypass surgery due to residual stenosis. In the long-term follow-up period (2-7 years), four patients were still alive, with another embolic episode of a lower limb in one patient. One patient died of an unrelated cause without experiencing another embolic episode. CONCLUSION: Intraarterial fibrinolysis may be a therapeutic alternative in the management of SMA embolism in selected patients in whom an early diagnosis can be made. The long-term results depend on the occurrence of another embolic event.     

Giant aneurysms of the internal carotid artery: endovascular treatment and long-term follow-up

We report the long-term follow-up of 18 patients with giant aneurysms of the internal carotid artery (ICA) referred for endovascular occlusion of the parent vessel. There were 10 aneurysms involving the infra- and/or supraclinoid cavernous segment, six the ophthalmic segment, one the petrous segment and one the bifurcation. One patient who did not tolerate test occlusion was treated medically. Clinical and imaging follow-up were obtained in 16 patients for a mean of 30 months, range 6–80 months. Endovascular treatment led to excellent clinical outcome in 16 patients. One 34-year-old woman, who presented with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), died from bilateral middle cerebral artery infarcts due to severe vasospasm 4 days after treatment. The patient treated medically died from SAH. Long-term imaging follow-up in 16 patients revealed a markedly smaller aneurysm sac in all cases.     

PARIS风险预测评分系统对中国冠心病患者冠状动脉介入术后长期缺血事件预测能力分析

目的探讨PARIS风险预测评分系统对中国行经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)的冠心病(CAD)患者出院后长期缺血事件预测能力。方法选取冠心病抗血小板治疗的优选方案研究(OPT-CAD)中两年随访的8 201例置入药物洗脱支架的CAD患者为研究对象。根据PARIS缺血评分将患者分为低危组(评分0～2分,n=4 172)、中危组(评分3～4分,n=3 099)和高危组(评分≥5分,n=930)。比较3组患者一般资料、介入治疗情况、研究终点。比较PARIS缺血评分对冠状动脉血栓事件(CTE)的预测值及真实值。结果随着PARIS缺血评分风险增高,男性、既往心肌梗死、既往PCI、既往卒中、肌酐清除率<60 ml/min比例均有升高的趋势(P<0.05)。3组随着PARIS缺血评分风险增高,缺血事件、全因死亡发生率均有升高的趋势。高危组与低危组CTE发生率比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);高危组与低危组、中危组缺血事件发生率比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);3组患者全因死亡发生率比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。低危组预测的CTE的发生率和真实的缺血事件发生率分别为1.80%、1.75%,中危组分别为3.90%、2.10%,高危组分别10.00%、2.80%。3组中预测事件率均高于真实事件率。结论 PARIS风险预测评分对我国PCI患者术后CTE预测性有限,而对复合缺血事件和全因死亡事件有一定的区分度。     

Low-dose and long-term G-CSF treatment can improve severe myocardial ischemia in patients with severe coronary artery disease

Background  

It has been reported that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) can promote angiogenesis by mobilizing bone marrow stem cells to blood vessels. The purpose of this study is to clarify whether low-dose and long-term G-CSF treatment can improve severe myocardial ischemia.     

Integrated PET/CT for the assessment of coronary artery disease: a feasibility study.

An accurate, noninvasive technique for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) should provide complementary information on coronary anatomy and pathophysiologic lesion severity. We present, what is to our knowledge, the first clinical evaluation of integrated PET/CT for combined acquisition of coronary anatomy and perfusion. METHODS: On an integrated PET/CT scanner, contrast-enhanced CT angiography (CTA) and rest/adenosine-stress myocardial perfusion scanning with (13)N-ammonia were performed on 25 patients with CAD documented by coronary angiography. Contrast-enhanced CTA was performed with retrospective electrocardiography gating after injection of 150 mL of intravenous contrast medium. Decisions on whether to treat with revascularization (anatomic lesion plus ischemia) or conservatively (no lesion or no ischemia) based on PET/CT were compared with those based on PET plus coronary angiography. RESULTS: Of the 100 coronary artery segments (left main, left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right in 25 patients), 7 (in 5 patients) were considered impossible to evaluate by CT because of rapid vessel movement but were correctly categorized by PET alone. In the remaining 93 segments, the sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT versus PET plus coronary angiography were 90% and 98%, respectively. Positive and negative predictive values were 82% and 99%, and accuracy was 97%. CONCLUSION: The data of this preliminary study suggest that PET/CT allows accurate noninvasive clinical decision making about CAD. Because of its high negative predictive value, PET/CT may play an important role in noninvasive selection of CAD patients for revascularization. Integration of higher-performance multislice spiral CT scanners into PET/CT hybrids will accelerate the clinical implementation of this technique.     

PET-CT在冠心病诊断中的临床应用及新进展

PET-CT对冠心病的诊断、治疗方案的选择及预后的判断等具有重要意义,可无创性诊断冠心病、评估动脉粥样硬化斑块性质、指导冠心病治疗方法的选择与疗效监测、判断预后等.该文介绍PET-CT在冠心病中的临床应用及新进展.     

冠脉支架ZetaTM和DriverR的临床应用观察

 目的观察冠脉支架Multi-Llink RX ZetaTM和DriveR的特点、临床应用的安全性及其短期随访结果.方法分析经选择性冠状动脉造影(Coronary angiography,CAG)证实为管腔狭窄面积＞75%的冠心病(Coronary heart disease,CHD)患者87例,46例冠状动脉内置入Multi-Llink RX ZetaTM支架,共置入支架47只;41例冠状动脉内置入DriverR支架,共置入支架41只,观察支架术后疗效和6个月内临床心脏事件(Major adverse cardiac events,MACE)发生率以及再狭窄率.结果两组手术成功率均为100%.Multi-Llink RX ZetaTM支架组,血管扭曲病变及长病变占89.5%,6个月MACE发生率为2.2%,再狭窄率为12.6%;DriverR支架组,扭曲病变及长病变占87.8%,分叉病变占46.7%,其中,直接置入支架4个,6个月MACE发生率为2.4%,再狭窄率为12.2%.结论两组手术成功率高,治疗扭曲病变及长病变疗效好,MACE发生率和6个月再狭窄率均较低;Multi-Llink RX ZetaTM支架具有良好的跟踪性和高穿过性,DriverR支架具有可弯曲性好、支撑力好、侧孔大、易到位等优点,直接置入成功率高,对边支血管影响小,适用于分叉病变.     

Impact of age on coronary artery plaque progression and clinical outcome: A PARADIGM substudy

BackgroundThe association of age with coronary plaque dynamics is not well characterized by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).MethodsFrom a multinational registry of patients who underwent serial CCTA, 1153 subjects (61 ± 5 years old, 61.1% male) were analyzed. Annualized volume changes of total, fibrous, fibrofatty, necrotic core, and dense calcification plaque components of the whole heart were compared by age quartile groups. Clinical events, a composite of all-cause death, acute coronary syndrome, and any revascularization after 30 days of the initial CCTA, were also analyzed. Random forest analysis was used to define the relative importance of age on plaque progression.ResultsWith a 3.3-years’ median interval between the two CCTA, the median annual volume changes of total plaque in each age quartile group was 7.8, 10.5, 10.8, and 12.1 mm³/year and for dense calcification, 2.5, 4.6, 5.4, and 7.1 mm³/year, both of which demonstrated a tendency to increase by age (p-for-trend = 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively). However, this tendency was not observed in any other plaque components. The annual volume changes of total plaque and dense calcification were also significantly different in the propensity score-matched lowest age quartile group versus the other age groups as was the composite clinical event (log-rank p = 0.003). In random forest analysis, age had comparable importance in the total plaque volume progression as other traditional factors.ConclusionsThe rate of whole-heart plaque progression and dense calcification increases depending on age. Age is a significant factor in plaque growth, the importance of which is comparable to other traditional risk factors.Clinical trial registrationURL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifiers: NCT02803411.     

Coronary flow reserve and relative flow reserve measured by N-13 ammonia PET for characterization of coronary artery disease

Objective

We evaluated the relationships between coronary flow reserve (CFR) and relative flow reserve (RFR) measured by N-13 ammonia positron emission tomography (PET) for characterization of epicardial coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods

Sixty-nine consecutive stable angina patients underwent N-13 ammonia PET, coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), and if necessary, invasive coronary angiography (CAG) within 2 weeks. Myocardial blood flow (MBF), CFR, RFR, and coronary vascular resistance of the reference arterial territory (CVR_ref) were measured by N-13 ammonia PET. The presence of significant stenosis (SS) and diffuse atherosclerosis (DA) was evaluated on CCTA and CAG. Functional parameters measured by PET were compared among arteries with and without SS and DA.

Results

Arteries with SS and those with DA showed significantly lower stress MBF, as compared to those without. RFR was significantly lower in arteries with SS as compared to those without, while CFR was not. CFR was significantly lower in arteries with DA as compared to those without, while RFR was not. Among arteries without SS, CFR was significantly lower in those with DA as compared to those without. However, among arteries with SS, CFR was similar between those with and without DA. In contrast, RFR was significantly lower in arteries with SS, regardless of the presence of DA. CFR and RFR showed a weak positive correlation (r = 0.269) with discordance in 24 cases (35%). Among the arteries with CFR-RFR discordance, the prevalence of DA was significantly higher in those with low CFR but preserved RFR, as compared to those with preserved CFR but low RFR (75 vs 25%, p = 0.028). CVR_ref was significantly higher in arteries with DA, implicating a correlation of DA with underlying microvascular disease.

Conclusions

CFR and RFR measured by myocardial perfusion PET could provide a comprehensive information for characterization of epicardial CAD.

     

Incidence and predictors of heart failure during long-term follow-up after stress Tc-99m sestamibi tomography in patients with suspected coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND: Heart failure is a major cause of morbidity and death in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to define the incidence and predictors of heart failure during long-term follow-up in patients with suspected CAD referred for stress myocardial perfusion imaging. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 787 patients (mean age, 57 +/- 12 years; 470 men) with suspected CAD who had no history of previous myocardial infarction or heart failure with exercise (n = 508) or dobutamine (n = 279) stress technetium 99m sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography. Patients were followed up for the occurrence of heart failure, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and death. An abnormal perfusion scan (reversible or fixed perfusion defect) was detected in 341 patients (43%). During a mean follow-up of 6.7 +/- 2.3 years, heart failure occurred in 46 patients (6%), 170 patients (22%) died, and 52 patients (7%) had nonfatal myocardial infarction. Patients in whom heart failure developed were older (mean age, 60 +/- 12 years vs 56 +/- 12 years; P = .01) and were more likely to be men (34 [74%] vs 436 [59%], P = .01) and to have an abnormal scan (32 [70%] vs 309 [42%], P = .0002) compared with patients without heart failure. Nonfatal myocardial infarction occurred before the onset of heart failure in only 3 patients (7%). By multivariate analysis, predictors of heart failure were age (risk ratio [RR], 1.04 [95% CI, 1.01-1.08]), male gender (RR, 2 [95% CI, 1.3-4.5]), resting heart rate (RR, 1.1 [95% CI, 1.05-1.2]), and abnormal scan (RR, 2.3 [95% CI, 1.4-3.9]). The annual mortality rate was 15% after the diagnosis of heart failure. CONCLUSION: In patients with suspected CAD and no history of myocardial infarction, late heart failure is predicted by age, gender, resting heart rate, and abnormal perfusion, and it is associated with a substantial mortality rate. The majority of heart failure events are heralded by perfusion abnormalities on sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography but not by an earlier myocardial infarction.     

Differences in coronary artery disease by CT angiography between patients developing unstable angina pectoris vs. major adverse cardiac events

Objective

CT angiography (CTA) has prognostic value in patients. But it is unknown whether differences in atherosclerosis by CTA predict the development of unstable angina pectoris (UAP) vs. major adverse cardiac events (MACE).

Methods

We followed patients undergoing CTA as part of their acute chest pain work-up. Primary outcome was the development of UAP or MACE (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, revascularization) during a minimum follow-up of 12-months. CTAs were assessed for extent and composition of coronary plaque and stenosis. Ordinal regression with a 3-level outcome (no events, UAP, MACE) was applied.

Results

Among 315 patients, 22 developed UAP and 31 MACE. While UAP patients had higher atherosclerosis burden with respect to all assessed features compared to patients with no events (p ≤ 0.02), only mixed plaque extent was significantly different between UAP and MACE patients (p = 0.02). The odds ratio was 4.55 for being in a higher disease-level comparing patients with low extent to those with no mixed plaque, and 3.02 comparing patients with high to those with low. These findings remained after adjustments for potential confounders.

Conclusion

The extent of mixed coronary plaque is different between patients who develop UAP vs. MACE, supporting the hypothesis that it is a more culprit morphology.     

Computed tomography coronary angiography accuracy in women and men at low to intermediate risk of coronary artery disease

Objectives

To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of CT coronary angiography (CTCA) in women at low to intermediate pre-test probability of coronary artery disease (CAD) compared with men.

Methods

In this retrospective study we included symptomatic patients with low to intermediate risk who underwent both invasive coronary angiography and CTCA. Exclusion criteria were previous revascularisation or myocardial infarction. The pre-test probability of CAD was estimated using the Duke risk score. Thresholds of less than 30?% and 30–90?% were used for determining low and intermediate risk, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of CTCA in detecting obstructive CAD (≥50?% lumen diameter narrowing) was calculated on patient level. P?<?0.05 was considered significant.

Results

A total of 570 patients (46?% women [262/570]) were included and stratified as low (women 73?% [80/109]) and intermediate risk (women 39?% [182/461]). Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were not significantly different in and between women and men at low and intermediate risk. For women vs. men at low risk they were 97?% vs. 100?%, 79?% vs. 90?%, 80?% vs. 80?% and 97?% vs. 100?%, respectively. For intermediate risk they were 99?% vs. 99?%, 72?% vs. 83?%, 88?% vs. 93?% and 98?% vs. 99?%, respectively.

Conclusion

CTCA has similar diagnostic accuracy in women and men at low and intermediate risk.

Key Points

? Coronary artery disease (CAD) is increasingly investigated by computed tomography angiography (CTCA). ? CAD detection or exclusion by CTCA is not different between sexes. ? CTCA diagnostic accuracy was similar between low and intermediate risk sex-specific-groups. ? CTCA rarely misses obstructive CAD in low–intermediate risk women and men. ? CAD yield by invasive coronary angiography after positive CTCA is similar between sex-risk-specific groups.     

冠状动脉CTA对于中低度冠心病风险男性和女性病人的准确性

目的比较女性与男性低中度冠心病风险者中冠状动脉CT血管成像的诊断准确性。方法此回顾性研究包括有低中度冠心病风险的有症状病人,进行了介入冠状动脉造影和冠状动脉CTA检查。排除标准为既往曾行血管再通治疗或心肌梗死的病人。采用Duke风险评分初步评估冠心病的可能性。分别以小于30%和30%～90%为低度和中度风险。计算冠状动脉CTA在病人水平上显示阻塞性冠心病(管腔狭窄≥50%)的诊断准确性。以P<0.05有统计学意义。结果共有570例病人(46%为女性,262/570),分为低度(73%为女性,80/109)和中度(39%为女性,182/461)风险。无论男性和女性,低度和中度风险组,其间诊断的敏感度、特异度、阳性和阴性预测值的差异均没有统计学意义。在低风险组,对于女性和男性分别为97%和100%,79%和90%,80%和80%,97%和100%;而在中度风险组,对于女性和男性分别是99%和99%,72%和83%,88%和93%,98%和99%。结论冠状动脉CTA对于中低度冠心病风险的男性和女性有相似的诊断准确性。