Chronic Total Occlusion Patients Research Articles

Impact of complete revascularization on long-term clinical outcomes in patients with multi-vessel disease, including chronic total occlusion.

To compare the long-term prognostic effect of complete percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on cardiovascular events in chronic total occlusion (CTO) patients with the multi-vessel disease (MVD) compared with medical therapy (MT). We enrolled 441 patients with CTO and MVD who underwent PCI. The study population was divided into the CTO-PCI (n = 231) and the CTO-MT (n = 210) groups. Active PCI for non-CTO lesions was permitted in both groups. The primary endpoint was defined as the composite of all-cause death or myocardial infarction (MI). The primary endpoint occurred more frequently in the CTO-MT group (13.5%) than in the CTO-PCI group (4.7%; P = 0.002). However, the target vessel revascularization (TVR), as a secondary endpoint, occurred more in the CTO-PCI group (16.3% vs. 5.5%, P = 0.001). After propensity score matching (PSM) analysis, the primary endpoint was higher in the CTO-MT group (12.6%) than in the PCI group (2.3%): all-cause death (8.4% vs. 2.3%, P = 0.042) and MI (4.3% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.023). Moreover, TVR of the CTO lesions occurred more frequently in the CTO-PCI group (18.1% vs. 6.8%, P = 0.009). Significant improvement in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was observed in both groups. According to the results of the subgroup analysis, CTO-PCI may be more effective in patients with diabetes, preserved LVEF (> 50%), and well-developed collateral vessels (> grade II). In this study, complete revascularization in CTO with MVD reduced the incidence of all-cause death, MI, and a composite of both over a 5year follow-up compared to medical treatment for CTO lesions.

Association Between Wound Healing and the Japanese Below-the-Knee Chronic Total Occlusion Score in Patients With Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia After Endovascular Therapy.

In the current study, we hypothesized that the Japanese below-the-knee chronic total occlusion score could be used to stratify the lesion difficulty of endovascular therapy for below-the-knee chronic total occlusion through angiographic evaluation. We thus aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of the Japanese below-the-knee chronic total occlusion score in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia after successful endovascular therapy for below-the-knee chronic total occlusion. This was a retrospective, single-center observational study. We enrolled 139 consecutive patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (149 limbs), who underwent successful endovascular therapy for chronic total occlusion between February 2008 and December 2017. The Japanese below-the-knee chronic total occlusion score was assessed based on the definition of the target arterial path. The evaluation items were the rate of amputation-free survival and wound healing at 1 year, and the association between wound healing at 1 year and the Japanese below-the-knee chronic total occlusion score. The rates of amputation-free survival and wound healing at 1 year were 88.0 and 56.4%, respectively. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis identified direct flow to the wound (hazard ratio: 2.34, 95% confidence interval: 1.28-4.66; p<0.01); Wound, Ischemia, and foot Infection stages 1-3 (hazard ratio: 2.81, 95% confidence interval: 1.63-5.18; p<0.01); and a Japanese below-the-knee chronic total occlusion score ≤1 (hazard ratio: 1.70, 95% confidence interval: 1.02-2.98; p=0.04) to be predictors of wound healing. A Japanese below-the-knee chronic total occlusion score ≤1, direct flow to the wound, and Wound, Ischemia, and foot Infection stages 1-3 were found to be associated with wound healing after successful endovascular therapy for below-the-knee chronic total occlusion in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia. This study was conducted to evaluate the prognostic impact of the Japanese below-the-knee chronic total occlusion (J-BTK CTO) score in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) after successful endovascular treatment (EVT). The results showed that the J-BTK CTO score not only evaluates the difficulty of EVT but also can predict limb prognosis. Using the J-BTK CTO score, it seems possible to predict the limb prognosis and make it useful in clinical practice.

The Predictive Value of the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index for Cardiovascular Events in Chronic Total Occlusion Patients Who Prior Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

There is limited research on the long-term prognosis of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) patients who have previously undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Additionally, the prognostic value of a novel systemic immune inflammation index (SII) in this specific patient population remains unclear. To adjust for differences in baseline features and minimize bias, 335 pairs of patients with or without prior CABG undergone PCI were obtained after probability score matching (PSM) in a single-center cohort. The clinical characteristics were collected, and the primary outcomes were major cardiovascular events (MACE), which included all-cause death, nonfatal MI and unplanned revascularization, were recorded during the follow-up period after discharge. The group with prior CABG were divided according to the median level of SII: Lower SII group (SII ≤ 570.10, N = 167) and higher SII group (SII ≥ 570.10, N = 168). The SII values were significantly higher in the prior CABG group than in the without prior CABG group [570.10 (444.60, 814.12) vs 519.65 (446.86, 565.84), P < 0.001, respectively]. The survival Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with prior CABG was significantly associated with a higher risk of MACE than patients without prior CABG (P = 0.016) in the long-term follow-up. As SII levels increased, the cumulative risk of MACE became significantly higher in the patients with prior CABG (P = 0.023) stratified by the median value of SII. The Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis indicated that the level of SII (hazard ratio = 2.035, 95% CI, 1.103-3.753, P = 0.023) emerged as independent predictors of MACE. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis illustrated that the HR for MACE increased with increasing SII. SII is a reliable predictor of long-term cardiovascular events after PCI in CTO patients with prior CABG, suggesting that SII may be helpful in identifying high-risk patients who need more aggressive treatment and follow-up strategies.

Circulating microRNAs and collateral circulation in coronary chronic total occlusion

Coronary collateral circulation (CCC) above the coronary chronic total occlusion is an alternative blood supply to the ischemic myocardium and increases survival among patients with coronary artery disease. In this regard, identification of novel markers associated with the CCC severity has diagnostic potential for patient stratification. It has been shown that circulating microRNAs play an important role in almost all cardiovascular aspects, including the association of some microRNAs with the CCC severity. The aim of this review is to consider the main modern studies on association of circulating microRNAs and CCC severity in coronary chronic total occlusion in patients with coronary artery disease, followed by a functional analysis of the identified microRNAs.

Assessment of chronical total occlusions management in France: The ENCOCHE Registry, a prospective, multicentric study

BackgroundCoronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) are frequent, and coronary angioplasty has been increasingly used in recent years for lesion revascularisation. However, to date, no dedicated multicentric prospective study is available in France. AimTo describe the characteristics of CTO patients and to assess current treatment strategies in French catheterisation laboratory practice. MethodsPatients presenting with CTOs were included from 16/09/2021 to 13/12/2021 over two consecutive prospective phases. In phase I (one month), data were collected to include all patients presenting CTO at diagnostic angiography. In phase II (two months), data were collected focusing on patients who underwent CTO-PCI. ResultsA total of 1303 patients (1460 CTOs) were included in 68 French centres. The mean age was 67.7±10.7 years and 84.3% of the patients were men. The prevalence of prior PCI (44.6%), and diabetes mellitus (35.6%) was high. In phase I, multivessel coronary artery disease was detected in two-thirds of cases, and most of them (88.5%) had a single CTO. The mean J-CTO score was 1.9±1.2, with a proportion of difficult and very difficult CTO (J CTO score ≥2) of 61.1%. The selected treatment was medical therapy in 57% of cases, coronary angioplasty in 30% and bypass surgery in 13%. In phase II, 528 patients were included with a mean J-CTO score of 1.8±1.2. Successful guidewire crossing through CTO lesion was obtained with an antegrade access in 89% of patients. Procedural success rate of CTO-PCI was 80%, with a rate of major in-hospital complications of 1% (death: 0.4%, MI: 0.2%, stroke: 0.2%, emergency CABG: 0.2%). ConclusionThis prospective study provides a snapshot of CTOs prevalence and CTO treatment strategies in France in 2021.

Exosomal miRNAs Differentiate Chronic Total Occlusion from Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Although coronary artery occlusion can have a negative effect on the myocardium, chronic total occlusion (CTO) exhibits different clinical features from those of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In this study, we identify the differential associations of exosomal miRNAs with CTO and AMI. Exosomes were isolated from the plasma obtained from coronary arteries of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention to treat CTO (n = 29) and AMI (n = 24), followed by small RNA sequencing, target gene predictions, and functional enrichment analyses. Promising miRNA markers were validated using real-time PCR in 35 CTO, 35 AMI, and 10 normal subjects. A total of 205 miRNAs were detected in all subjects, and 20 and 12 miRNAs were upregulated and downregulated in CTO compared to AMI patients, respectively (|fold change| > 4, FDR q < 0.05). The target genes of miRNAs that were higher in CTO patients were associated with "regulation of cell cycle phase transition", "cell growth", and "apoptosis". The target genes of miRNAs that were lower in CTO patients were enriched in terms such as "muscle cell differentiation", "response to oxygen levels", and "artery morphogenesis". On qRT-PCR analysis, the expression levels of miR-9-5p and miR-127-3p were significantly different between CTO and AMI patients. The miRNA expression levels accurately distinguished CTO from AMI patients with 79% specificity and 97% sensitivity. The miRNA contents of plasma exosomes were significantly different between CTO and AMI patients. The miRNAs may play important roles in CTO and AMI.

CLINICAL AND ANGIOGRAPHIC OUTCOMES OF PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION IN CHRONIC TOTAL OCCLUSION PATIENTS: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) presents a unique challenge in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), requiring specialised techniques to achieve successful revascularisation. Despite the complexity, PCI in CTO cases has evolved significantly, showing promising outcomes. Objectives: To assess percutaneous coronary intervention's clinical and angiographic outcomes in chronic total occlusion patients. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at NICVD Karachi, Pakistan, following approval from the hospital's ethical committee. It reviewed the medical records of 150 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) from January 2024 to July 2024. Data was collected retrospectively from electronic medical records, including demographic details (age, gender, cardiovascular risk factors, and comorbidities), baseline clinical characteristics (presentation, symptoms, angina status, and prior cardiac history), and angiographic data (pre- and post-procedural findings, including the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade). Clinical outcomes were assessed for both short-term and long-term results, including major adverse cardiac events (MACE) such as myocardial infarction, repeat revascularisation, target lesion revascularisation, and all-cause mortality. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 25. Results: 150 patients were enrolled, with a mean age of 54.81±8.97 years. The cohort included 54.7% males (82 patients) and 45.3% females (68 patients). Before PCI, 87.3% of patients (131) had no blood flow in the occluded artery, while 12.7% (19) had minimal flow. Post-PCI, 91.3% (137 patients) achieved full blood flow (TIMI Flow Grade 3), and 8.7% (13 patients) had partial flow. The procedural success rate was 91.3%. In terms of short-term major adverse cardiac events (MACE), 116(77.3%) patients had no events, while 22.7% (34 patients) experienced a myocardial infarction (MI). For long-term MACE, 84.0% (126 patients) had no adverse events, 10.0% (15 patients) required target lesion revascularisation, 4.7% (7 patients) underwent repeat revascularisation, and 1.3% (2 patients) experienced mortality. Conclusion: This study confirms the efficacy and safety of PCI for CTO patients, demonstrating high procedural success rates, significant clinical improvements, and relatively low long-term adverse events. However, advancing procedural techniques and fostering specialised training are essential to enhance patient outcomes due to the risks and complexities involved. Further research, including large-scale randomised controlled trials, is needed to validate these results and refine patient selection and management strategies for CTO PCI.

Impact of aging on long-term cardiac outcomes of true-lumen recanalized chronic total occlusions in patients with overweight/obesity

BackgroundObesity paradox addressing all-cause mortality has been described in several chronic total occlusion (CTO) studies. However, the impact of aging on long-term cardiac events in patients with overweight and obesity with CTO recanalization were less studied.MethodsA total of 458 patients (64.4 ± 11.3 years, 403 male) with CTO interventions were enrolled. The overweight/obesity group included 311 patients with body mass index (BMI) ≧24 kg/m2 and the non-obesity group included 147. With a median follow-up of 40.0 (17.9–61.4) months, 422 patients with successful true-lumen recanalization were further assessed for target lesion failure [TLF: cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction (TVMI), target lesion revascularization (TLR)].ResultsAt follow-up, the rates of cardiac death, TVMI, TLR, TLF, and stent thrombosis were 1.9%, 1.9%, 9.2%, 10.7%, and 0.5%, respectively. The TVMI-free survival was borderline better (p = 0.067 by log-rank test) in overweight/obesity than non-obesity group. Among patients <65 years of age, the TVMI-free survival was significantly better in the overweight/obesity group (p = 0.013 compared to non-obesity group by log-rank test). In multivariate Cox regression model, the non-obesity patients younger than 65 years were at a higher risk of TVMI, not only among those <65 years of age (hazard ratio = 11.0, 95% CI = 1.1–106.0) but also among the whole patients (hazard ratio=6.9, 95% CI = 1.4–35.1) with successful CTO recanalization.ConclusionsFor those with true-lumen recanalized CTO, the higher risk of TVMI after successful recanalization was rather evident in patients <65 years of age and without overweight/obesity, suggesting that aging might attenuate prognostic significance of “obesity paradox” for CTO interventions.

Efficacy of revascularization in CTO patients based on hibernating myocardium therapy.

The effectiveness of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) is still uncertain, especially for patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction. This study aimed to assess hibernating myocardium (HM), as determined by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and 18F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET), and to compare the benefits of PCI and optimal medical therapy (OMT). A retrospective study collected data from 332 patients with CTO and ischemic left ventricular dysfunction. The study compared patients who underwent PCI or OMT via propensity score matching (PSM) analysis which was performed with a 1:2 matching protocol using the nearest neighbour matching algorithm. The primary endpoint of the study was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiac death, readmission for worsening heart failure (WHF), revascularization and myocardial infarction (MI). After PSM, there were a total of 246 individuals in the PCI and OMT groups. Following Cox regression, hibernating myocardium/total perfusion defect (HM/TPD) was identified as an independent risk factor (hazard ratio (HR): 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.008-1.052, p = .007). The cut-off value of HM/TPD was 38%. The results of the subgroup analysis suggest that for patients with HM/TPD >38%, the OMT group had a greater risk of MACE (p = .035). A sensitivity analysis restricting patients with single-vessel CTO lesions, HM/TPD remained an independent predictor (HR 1.025, 95% CI 1.008-1.043, p = .005). HM/TPD is an independent predictor of MACE, and for patients with HM/TPD > 38%, CTO-PCI had a lower risk of MACE compared with OMT. However, further validation is still needed through large-scale studies.

Prognostic Value of Estimated Glucose Disposal Rate and Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index in Non-Diabetic Patients Undergoing PCI for Chronic Total Occlusion.

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) is a complex lesion of coronary artery disease (CAD) with a detection rate of approximately 25% on coronary angiography. CTO patients generally experience poor quality of life and prognosis. This study aims to evaluate the association between the estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR), a surrogate marker for insulin resistance (IR), and the prognosis of CTO PCI patients, as well as to investigate the potential role of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in this process. We retrospectively included 1482 non-diabetic patients who underwent successful CTO PCI at Anzhen Hospital between January 2018 and December 2021. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Clinical characteristics, biochemical markers, and interventional records were collected, and the eGDR and SII were calculated. Cox regression, restricted cubic splines (RCSs), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to assess associations. MACEs occurred in 158 patients (10.67%). Patients with MACEs had lower eGDR and higher SII levels. A high eGDR significantly reduced MACE risk (Q4 vs. Q1: HR 0.06, 95% CI 0.03-0.12), while a high SII increased it (Q4 vs. Q1: HR 3.32, 95% CI 1.78-6.33). The combination of low eGDRs and high SIIs predicted the highest MACE risk (HR 4.36, 95% CI 2.71-6.01). The SII partially mediated the relationship between eGDR and MACEs. A low eGDR and high SII are significant predictors of poor prognosis in non-diabetic CTO PCI patients. Combining the eGDR and the SII provides a comprehensive assessment for better predicting cardiovascular outcomes.

Comparison of Complete Versus Incomplete Percutaneous Revascularization in Patients With Chronic Total Occlusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The optimal extent of revascularization in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains debated. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of complete versus incomplete revascularization in CTO patients. A systematic search of EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science was conducted up to July 6, 2024. Studies reporting outcomes in CTO patients undergoing PCI with complete or incomplete revascularization were included. The primary outcomes were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality. Eight studies with a total of 7,067 patients (4,854 complete and 2,213 incomplete revascularization) were included. Complete revascularization was associated with a significantly lower risk of MACE (RR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.43-0.77), all-cause mortality (RR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.37-0.78), and cardiovascular mortality (RR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.29-0.75) compared to incomplete revascularization. There was no significant difference in the risk of recurrent myocardial infarction between the two groups (RR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.20-1.80). In patients with CTO undergoing PCI, complete revascularization is associated with significantly better clinical outcomes, including lower risks of MACE, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality, compared to incomplete revascularization. These findings suggest that achieving complete revascularization should be prioritized when feasible in CTO patients.

Association Between Lesion Length and Clinical Outcomes in Chronic Total Occlusion Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Association Between Lesion Length and Clinical Outcomes in Chronic Total Occlusion Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Association of plasma microRNA levels with different collateral circulation degree in chronic total occlusion patients with coronary artery disease: a pilot study

Association of plasma microRNA levels with different collateral circulation degree in chronic total occlusion patients with coronary artery disease: a pilot study

Impact of coronary collateralization on major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events after successful recanalization of chronic total occlusion.

This study aims to investigate the effects of coronary collateral circulation (CCC) on the prognosis of chronic total occlusion (CTO) patients with or without metabolic syndrome (MetS). The study included 342 CTO patients who underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention at the People's Hospital of Liaoning Province between 1 February 2021 and 30 September 2023. The Rentrop score was used to assess the status of CCC. The outcome was major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), defined as a composite of all-cause mortality, cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR), and non-fatal stroke. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were used to investigate the association of CCC, MetS, and MACCEs with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The effect of CCC was further investigated in different MetS, diabetes mellitus (DM), and Syntax score groups. MACCEs were more common in patients with poor CCC compared to those with good CCC (38.74% vs. 16.56%). Statistical differences were found in MACCEs (OR = 3.33, 95% CI: 1.93-5.72), MI (OR = 3.11, 95% CI: 1.73-5.58), TVR (OR = 3.06, 95% CI: 1.70-5.53), and stent thrombosis (OR = 6.14, 95% CI: 2.76-13.65) between the good and poor CCC groups. Poor CCC patients with MetS had a higher incidence of MACCEs (OR = 4.21, 95% CI: 2.05-8.65), non-fatal MI (OR = 4.44, 95% CI: 2.01-9.83), TVR (OR = 3.28, 95% CI: 1.51-7.11), and stent thrombosis (OR = 10.80, 95% CI: 3.11-37.54). Similar findings were also observed in CTO patients with DM and a Syntax score ≥23. Poor CCC could increase the risk of MACCEs in CTO patients, particularly those with MetS, DM, and a Syntax score ≥23. Further prospective, multicenter studies are needed to validate our findings and to explore potential therapeutic interventions.

C-43 | Causes and Predictors of 30 Days Readmission After Revascularization For Chronic Total Occlusion in Patients With History of Ventricular Tachycardia: Nationwide Readmissions Database Analysis.

C-43 | Causes and Predictors of 30 Days Readmission After Revascularization For Chronic Total Occlusion in Patients With History of Ventricular Tachycardia: Nationwide Readmissions Database Analysis.

C-42 | In-Hospital Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusion in Patients With History of Ventricular Tachycardia: National Inpatient Sample Database Analysis.

C-42 | In-Hospital Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusion in Patients With History of Ventricular Tachycardia: National Inpatient Sample Database Analysis.

D-53 | Influence of CKD Stages on Outcomes Post-PCI in Chronic Total Occlusion Patients

D-53 | Influence of CKD Stages on Outcomes Post-PCI in Chronic Total Occlusion Patients

Predictive value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in coronary chronic total occlusion patients.

The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported as a novel predictor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular outcomes. This study aimed to determine the effects of NLR on long-term clinical outcomes of chronic total occlusion (CTO) patients. A total of 670 patients with CTO who met the inclusion criteria were included at the end of the follow-up period. Patients were divided into tertiles according to their baseline NLR levels at admission: low (n = 223), intermediate (n = 223), and high (n = 224). The incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) during the follow-up period, including all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), or ischemia-driven revascularization, were compared among the three groups. Major adverse cardiac events were observed in 27 patients (12.1%) in the low tertile, 40 (17.9%) in the intermediate tertile, and 61 (27.2%) in the high NLR tertile (P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of MACE, ischemia-driven coronary revascularization, non-fatal MI, and mortality in patients within the high tertile than those in the low and intermediate groups (all P < 0.001). Multivariable COX regression analysis showed that the high tertile of baseline NLR level showed a strong association with the risk of MACE (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.21; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-4.03; P = 0.009), ischemia-driven coronary revascularization (HR = 3.19; 95% CI: 1.56-6.52; P = 0.001), MI (HR = 2.61; 95% CI: 1.35-5.03; P = 0.043) and mortality (HR = 3.78; 95% CI: 1.65-8.77; P = 0.001). Our findings suggest that NLR is an inexpensive and readily available biomarker that can independently predict cardiovascular risk in patients with CTO.

Radiomics-based discrimination of coronary chronic total occlusion and subtotal occlusion on coronary computed tomography angiography

ObjectivesDifferentiating chronic total occlusion (CTO) from subtotal occlusion (SO) is often difficult to make from coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). We developed a CCTA-based radiomics model to differentiate CTO and SO.MethodsA total of 66 patients with SO underwent CCTA before invasive angiography and were matched to 66 patients with CTO. Comprehensive imaging analysis was conducted for all lesioned vessels, involving the automatic identification of the lumen within the occluded segment and extraction of 1,904 radiomics features. Radiomics models were then constructed to assess the discriminative value of these features in distinguishing CTO from SO. External validation of the model was performed using data from another medical center.ResultsCompared to SO patients, CTO patients had more blunt stumps (internal: 53/66 (80.3%) vs. 39/66 (59.1%); external: 36/50 (72.0%) vs. 20/50 (40.0%), both p < 0.01), longer lesion length (internal: median length 15.4 mm[IQR: 10.4-22.3 mm] vs. 8.7 mm[IQR: 4.9-12.6 mm]; external:11.8 mm[IQR: 6.1-23.4 mm] vs. 6.2 mm[IQR: 3.5-9.1 mm]; both p < 0.001). Sixteen unique radiomics features were identified after the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression. When added to the combined model including imaging features, radiomics features provided increased value for distinguishing CTO from SO (AUC, internal: 0.772 vs. 0.846; p = 0.023; external: 0.718 vs. 0.781, p = 0.146).ConclusionsThe occluded segment vessels of CTO and SO have different radiomics signatures. The combined application of radiomics features and imaging features based on CCTA extraction can enhance diagnostic confidence.

Transcoronary Gradients of Mechanosensitive MicroRNAs as Predictors of Collateral Development in Chronic Total Occlusion.

Background and Objectives: In this present study, we investigated the impact of mechanosensitive microRNAs (mechano-miRs) on the collateral development in 126 chronic total occlusion (CTO) patients, selected from 810 undergoing angiography. Materials and Methods: We quantified the collateral blood supply using the collateral flow index (CFI) and assessed the transcoronary mechano-miR gradients. Results: The patients with favorable collaterals had higher CFI values (0.45 ± 0.02) than those with poor collaterals (0.38 ± 0.03, p < 0.001). Significant differences in transcoronary gradients were found for miR-10a, miR-19a, miR-21, miR-23b, miR-26a, miR-92a, miR-126, miR-130a, miR-663, and let7d (p < 0.05). miR-26a and miR-21 showed strong positive correlations with the CFI (r = 0.715 and r = 0.663, respectively), while let7d and miR-663 were negatively correlated (r = -0.684 and r = -0.604, respectively). The correlations between cytokine gradients and mechano-miR gradients were also significant, including Transforming Growth Factor Beta with miR-126 (r = 0.673, p < 0.001) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor with miR-10a (r = 0.602, p = 0.002). A regression analysis highlighted the hemoglobin level, smoking, beta-blocker use, miR-26a, and miR-663 as significant CFI determinants, indicating their roles in modulating the collateral vessel development. Conclusions: These findings suggest mechanosensitive microRNAs as predictive biomarkers for collateral circulation, offering new therapeutic perspectives for CTO patients.