1123 Patients with heart failure and ventricular tachycardia: the clinical and the echocardiographic profiles

Abstract

s S197 Eur J Echocardiography Abstracts Supplement, December 2006 Methods: Prospective study in 51 patients (58±16 years, 31% male) with stable angina and myocardial ischemia in non-invasive tests, submitted to elective coronary angiography. Virtual histology data were obtained by intra-coronary ultrasound with a 30 mHz probe and analysed with the VolcanoTM system. This system codes by colours four types of plaque composition (Fibrous F, Fibro-lipidic FL, Necrotic N and Calcified C). Plaques with at least 25% of fibro-lipidic component were considered as predominant fibro-lipidic plaques (11 patients) and these patients were compared in terms of age, gender, risk factors for coronary artery disease and quantitative vessel characteristics (vessel diameter, lumen diameter, lumen area, plaque area and calcium percentage). Results: In this population, 71% were hypertensive patients, 27% diabetics, 27% smokers and 67% had hyperlipidemia. In hypertensive patients (vs nonhipertensive), mean composition of the plaque (in percentage) was: F 58% vs 59%, FL 15% vs 18%, N 16% vs 14%, C 11% vs 9%, Mann-Whitney p=NS. In diabetics (vs non-diabetics): F 58% vs 58%, FL 12% vs 17%, 17% vs 15%, C 13% vs 9%, p=NS. In smokers (vs non-smokers): F 63% vs 56%, FL 18% vs 15%, N 16% vs 12%, C 7% vs 12%, p=NS. In patients with hyperlipidemia (vs normal lipid profile): F 56% vs 62%, FL 17% vs 14%, N 16% vs 14%, C 11% vs 9%, p=NS. When we compare patients with predominant FL plaques, there were no statistical significant differences, except for the percentage of calcium (4% in FL vs 13% in the remaining patients, p=0.02). Also the presence of smoking was associated with a FL predominant plaque (OR 4.8, 95% CI 1.7-19.8, p=0.05). Conclusions: There was no difference in plaque composition according to each risk factor. Fibro-lipidic plaques were more frequent in smokers with a consequent higher risk for acute coronary events. Calcium in these plaques has a smaller percentage, which could suggest less chronicity of those le-