Diffuse Coronary Artery Disease Research Articles

Long-term results of coronary bypass grafting supplemented with surgical stimulation of extracardiac myocardial vascularization in patients with diffuse coronary artery disease

Highlights. In recent decades, the number of patients with diffuse, multivessel coronary artery disease has increased due to widespread use of endovascular methods of treatment, long-term conservative management of patients, and the expansion of indications for surgical revascularization. In order to improve the results of treatment, in 2007 academician Yu. L. Shevchenko developed and began using the method of stimulation of extracardiac angiogenesis – «YurLeon». The present article demonstrates the long-term results of supplementing coronary bypass surgery with this method in patients with diffuse coronary artery disease.Aim. To evaluate long-term results of coronary bypass surgery supplemented by extracardiac myocardial revascularization.Methods. The prospective, randomized study included 205 patients with diffuse, multivessel coronary artery disease who were treated at the St. George Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic, National Medical and Surgical Center named after N.I. Pirogov. The majority of patients were men – 75% (n = 153), whereas women accounted for 25% (n = 52), all patients were 60 to 78 years old (67.3±5.74 years). The group I consisted of patients with coronary bypass surgery supplemented with the «YurLeon» technique, the group II consisted of patients with coronary bypass grafting only. All patients provided consent to participate in the study. The clinical condition of patients, echocardiography, myocardial scintigraphy and coronary angiography data, quality of life indicators (the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey) were assessed.Results. In the long-term postoperative period (36 months), the group I, compared with the group II, presented with a statistically significant decrease in the functional class of angina pectoris (1[1–2] vs. 2[1–2], p = 0.02); fewer adverse events: myocardial infarction (4.5% vs. 11.6%, p = 0.011), recurrent angina pectoris (10% vs. 17.9%, p = 0.038); an increase in the left ventricular ejection fraction (59.0±5.15% vs. 53.2±6.13%, p = 0.001); a decrease in the Summed Rest Score (SRS) (4.5±3.5 vs. 8.4±5.7, p = 0.012) according to myocardial scintigraphy with technetril; a decrease in the Summed Thickening Score (STS) (6.1±3.3 vs. 10.7±2.9, p = 0.012); a decrease in the hibernating myocardium (3.5±2.2% vs. 7.4±5.1%, p = 0.03); additional extracardiac sources were found in the group I according to coronary graft angiography, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups by occluded autogenous venous bypass grafts (in the group I – 23 out of 46 venous conduits (49%), in the group II – 30 out of 49 venous conduits (51%), p = 0.089); The groups differed in terms of quality of life (the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey): physical functioning (87.3±10.32 vs. 75.3±14.15 points, p = 0.001); role-based functioning due to physical condition (90.1±10.50 vs. 79.7±7.01 points, p = 0.012); pain (93.10±6.37 vs. 80.5±5.21 points, p = 0.03); the total physical component of health (57.9±5.4 vs. 45.8±6.1 points, p = 0.012).Conclusion. We have accumulated 15 years of experience in conducting complex myocardial revascularization in patients with coronary artery disease and diffuse coronary atherosclerosis, which allowed us to prove the effectiveness and safety of the YurLeon technique.

Predictors of Post-catheterization Femoral Artery Pseudoaneurysm

Objectives: To compare the affected patients with the age- and sex-matched patients in the control group. Materials and Methods: All patients who had undergone PCI, left heart catheterization, or coronary angiography between July and November 2022 were prospectively recruited. We included 247 patients in our study who underwent cardiac catheterization via femoral access. Results: The incidence of FAP after a diagnostic catheterization was 5.97% and 8.69% after an interventional procedure. The mean age of the patients with FAP was 54.06 ± 15.04 years and 62.5% patients were females in the affected group. In FAP group, 14 patients (87.5%) had hypertension, 8 patients (50%) had diabetes, and 37.5% were had obesity. The systolic blood pressure was 145.38 ± 29.99 mmHg, while the diastolic blood pressure was 86 ± 14.59 mmHg. Data obtained from computed tomography scanning showed that the arterial wall of the CFA was healthy in 11 patients (68.5%), while diffuse atherosclerosis was detected in 5 (31.5%) patients. In 69% of the patients, FAPs were connected to the CFA and in 31% patients to the superficial femoral artery (SFA). In 38% (6) patients partial thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm sac observed. Conclusion: FAP is a common vascular complication after a diagnostic procedure or percutaneous cardiac catheterization, and its prevalence is likely to rise.

Improved Performance of PET Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Compared to SPECT in the Evaluation of Suspected CAD.

Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) has played a central role in the non-invasive evaluation of patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) for decades. In this review, we discuss the key differences and advantages of positron emission tomography (PET) MPI over SPECT MPI as it relates to the diagnosis, prognosis, as well as clinical decision-making in patients with suspected CAD. Stress-induced perfusion abnormalities on SPECT help estimate presence, extent, and location of ischemia and flow-limiting obstructive CAD, help with risk stratification, and serve as a gatekeeper to identify patients who will benefit from downstream revascularization versus medical management. Some of the major limitations of SPECT include soft-tissue attenuation artifacts, underestimation of ischemia due to reliance on relative perfusion assessment, and longer protocols with higher radiation dose when performed with traditional equipment. PET MPI addresses most of these limitations and offers better quality images, higher diagnostic accuracy along with shorter protocols and lower radiation dose to the patient. A special advantage of PET scanning lies in the ability to quantify absolute myocardial blood flow and assess true extent of epicardial involvement along with identifying non-obstructive phenotypes of CAD such as diffuse atherosclerosis and microvascular dysfunction. In addition, stress acquisition at/near peak stress with PET allows us to measure left ventricular ejection fraction reserve and myocardial blood flow reserve, which help with identifying patients at a higher risk of future cardiac events and optimally select candidates for revascularization. The several technical advantages of PET MPI position as a superior method to diagnose obstructive and non-obstructive phenotypes of ischemic heart disease affecting the entirety of the coronary circulation offer incremental value for risk stratification and guide post-test management strategy for patients with suspected CAD.

Impact of the ultra-long 48 mm drug-eluting stent on procedural and clinical outcomes in patients with diffuse long coronary artery disease.

Diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD) is a prognostic factor after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and requires multiple overlapping stent implantations. We investigated the impact of ultra-long 48 mm drug-eluting stent (DES) on procedural and clinical outcomes in real-world practice. Patients who underwent DES implantation for a lesion length of >40 mm were selected from a prospective registry between 2019 and 2021. Patients treated with one or more ultra-long 48 mm DES were in the ultra-long DES group (n = 221). The others comprised the conventional DES group (n = 428). Procedural and clinical outcomes were compared after propensity score matching (PSM). The primary endpoint was a device-oriented composite outcome (DOCO) consisting of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization at 1-year follow-up. After PSM, 158 matched pairs of patients showed no differences in the baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics. The stent delivery failure rate, the use of guide-extension catheter or anchor balloon technique, and the procedural success rate were similar for both groups. Approximately two-thirds of lesions could be treated with one DES in the ultra-long DES group. At 1-year follow-up, the DOCO was similar for both groups (2.5% vs. 0.6%, p = .168). In daily clinical practice, ultra-long DES implantation is as safe and effective as multiple overlapping conventional DES implants in treating diffuse long CAD. However, ultra-long DES can reduce the number of stents. (Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02038127).

Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions for Long Diffuse Coronary Artery Disease with Extremely Small Diameter

The optimal percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) strategy and clinical outcomes of long lesions with an extremely small residual lumen remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a modified stenting strategy for diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD) with an extremely small distal residual lumen. 736 Patients who received PCI using second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) ≥38 mm long were retrospectively included and categorized into an extremely small distal vessel (ESDV) group (≤2.0 mm) and a non-ESDV group (>2.0 mm) according to the maximal luminal diameter of the distal vessel (dsDMax). A modified stenting technique was applied by landing an oversized DES in the distal segment with the largest luminal diameter and maintaining the distal stent edge partially expanded. The mean dsDMax and stent lengths were 1.7 ± 0.3 mm and 62.6 ± 18.1 mm in the ESDV group and 2.7 ± 0.5 mm and 59.1 ± 16.0 mm in non-ESDV groups, respectively. The acute procedural success rate was high in both the ESDV and non-ESDV groups (95.8% and 96.5%, p = 0.70) with rare distal dissection (0.3% and 0.5%, p = 1.00). The target vessel failure (TVF) rate was 16.3% in the ESDV group and 12.1% in the non-ESDV group at a median follow-up of 65 months without significant differences after propensity score matching. PCI using contemporary DES with this modified stenting technique is effective and safe for diffuse CAD with extremely small distal vessels.

Complementary prognostic value of stress perfusion imaging and global coronary flow reserve derived from cardiovascular magnetic resonance: a long-term cohort study

BackgroundPhase-contrast cine cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) quantifies global coronary flow reserve (CFR) by measuring blood flow in the coronary sinus (CS), allowing assessment of the entire coronary circulation. However, the complementary prognostic value of stress perfusion CMR and global CFR in long-term follow-up has yet to be investigated. This study aimed to investigate the complementary prognostic value of stress myocardial perfusion imaging and global CFR derived from CMR in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease (CAD) during long-term follow-up. MethodsParticipants comprised 933 patients with suspected or known CAD who underwent comprehensive CMR. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) comprised cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina, hospitalization for heart failure, stroke, ventricular arrhythmia, and late revascularization. ResultsDuring follow-up (median, 5.3 years), there were 223 MACE. Kaplan–Meier curve analysis revealed a significant difference in event-free survival among tertile groups for global CFR (log-rank, p < 0.001) and between patients with and without ischemia (p < 0.001). The combination of stress perfusion CMR and global CFR enhanced risk stratification (p < 0.001 for overall), and prognoses were comparable between the subgroup with ischemia and no impaired CFR and the subgroup with no ischemia and impaired CFR (p = 0.731). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that impaired CFR remained a significant predictor for MACE (hazard ratio, 1.6; p = 0.002) when adjusted for coronary risk factors and CMR predictors, including ischemia. The addition of impaired CFR to coronary risk factors and ischemia significantly increased the global chi-square value from 88 to 109 (p < 0.001). Continuous net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination with the addition of global CFR to coronary risk factors plus ischemia improved to 0.352 (p < 0.001) and 0.017 (p < 0.001), respectively. ConclusionsDuring long-term follow-up, stress perfusion CMR and global CFR derived from CS flow measurement provided complementary prognostic value for prediction of cardiovascular events. Microvascular dysfunction or diffuse atherosclerosis as shown by impaired global CFR may play a role as important as that of ischemia due to epicardial coronary stenosis in the risk stratification of CAD patients.

Assessment of Diffusely Diseased Coronary Artery by Instantaneous Wave-Free Ratio Co-Registration versus Quantitative Coronary Angiography

Purpose: Coronary physiological assessment is now routinely applied in the catheter laboratory to guide percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Currently most physiological assessment is performed in a binary manner to determine whether a vessel requires intervention. Although studies have reported the high diagnostic efficiency of physiological assessment in minimizing the number of vessels requiring treatment, it is widely recognized that interrogation of individual stenosis in the presence of tandem lesions or diffuse disease under hyperemic conditions makes PCI planning complex and less practical. The aim of this study was to perform assessment of severity of coronary lesions of a pressure guide wire with continuous instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) co-registration measurement compared coronary angiography and quantitative coronary analysis (QCA) aiming to minimize the procedure, decrease number and length of stents used.&#x0D; Methodology: This non randomized controlled trial was conducted at Cardiology Department, Benha University, National Heart Institute (NHI) from February 2020 to September 2022. The study included a group of 30 patients presented with diffuse coronary artery disease and undergoing elective PCI.&#x0D; Findings: The study found out that the distribution of risk factors among studied groups was HTN representing 54%, regarding DM 60%, concerning dyslipidemia 64% and smokers represented 57%. The median of expected length of stent using QCA assessment was 40.2 mm with standard deviation (SD) (8mm) higher than detected actually deployed by iFR co-registration. The mean length of stents used by IFR co-registration was 20.2 mm stents (SD: 11.2 mm) and P-value was 0.0000. Also, all patients needed stent via QCA while only 86% actually need stent application via iFR co-registration assessment, leading to a fewer stents placed per patient. The difference was statistically significant p&lt;0.0022. This study demonstrates that iFR co-registration performed under resting conditions predicted the physiological outcome of PCI with a high degree of accuracy. Compared with QCA, iFR co-registration significantly decreased the number and length of hemodynamically significant lesions identified for revascularization. iFR co-registration should be performed under resting Recommendation: iFR co-registration should be performed under resting conditions to predict the physiological outcome of PCI with a high degree of accuracy.

One-year outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting with radial artery graft in patients with diffuse coronary artery disease

One-year outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting with radial artery graft in patients with diffuse coronary artery disease

Effect of Low T3 Syndrome on Severity of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Low Triiodothyronine (T3) syndrome is a hormonal imbalance that significantly influences cardiovascular haemodynamics by altering the vascular endothelial function by influencing the Nitric Oxide (NO) production. In Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) inflammation disrupts plaque which stimulates thrombosis, coagulation, activation of sympathetic system and release of cytokines mainly Interleukin 6 (IL-6), which is a pleotropic and pro-inflammatory cytokine, which exerts inhibitory effect on thyroid axis function. Aim: To study the association of low T3 syndrome and severity of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in ACS. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Intensive Critical Care Unit (ICCU)under the Department of Cardiology, Karnataka institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli, Karnataka, India, from July 2021 to August 2022. A total of 120 consecutive ACS patients were taken for the study and all underwent Coronary Angiography (CAG). Severity of CAD was assessed with the help of Gensini risk scoring system. The patients were divided based on thyroid function status. Low T3 syndrome was defined as &lt;0.846 ng/ mL with normal values of Thyroxine (T4) and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to correlate low T3 syndrome and angiographic severity of CAD. Multinominal logistic regression analysis demonstrated LT3S is an independent risk factor for CAD. The Chi-square test was used for ordered categorical data with the severity of coronary artery lesions. Results: The severity of coronary artery lesions in the low T3 syndrome group (n=29, 24.16%) and hypothyroidism (n=20, 16.6%) group was significantly greater than that of euthyroid group (n=71, 59.1%), with all the groups’ (p-value=0.047). Multinominal logistic regression analysis demonstrated that low T3 syndrome was an independent risk factor of CAD for moderate (Odds ratio=2.34, 95%CI: 0.47-11.39, p&lt;0.02) and severe (Odds ratio=8.56, 95%CI: 1.52-47.9, p&lt;0.015) lesions. Conclusion: The patients with low T3 syndrome are associated with more severe and diffuse CAD and low T3 syndrome is an independent risk factor for ACS.

Efficiency of everolimus-eluting stents of different generations after functionally adequate myocardial revascularization in patients with diffuse and multivessel coronary artery disease

Efficiency of everolimus-eluting stents of different generations after functionally adequate myocardial revascularization in patients with diffuse and multivessel coronary artery disease

Short and long-term outcomes after off-pump coronary endarterectomy stratified by different target vessels

BackgroundThe efficacy of off-pump coronary endarterectomy (CE) has been proven in patients with diffuse coronary artery disease (DCAD). However, the clinical benefits of of-pump CE stratified by different target vessels remain controversial. This retrospective study assessed the effect of the territory and number of CE on short- and long-term outcomes of DCAD.MethodsFrom January 2012 to December 2014, 246 patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) + CE were included. The patients were grouped by the territory and number of CE. The primary endpoints were postoperative acute myocardial infarction (PMI) and long-term major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE).ResultsSixty-five patients (26.42%) were in the left anterior descending branch (LAD) group (CE on LAD), 134(54.47%) in the right coronary artery (RCA) group (CE on RCA), and 47(19.10%) in the multi-vessels group. PMI in the LAD group, RCA group, and multi-vessels group were 3.08%, 6.72%, and 14.89%, respectively (P = 0.08). Multi-vessels CE (OR = 9.042, 95%CI 2.198–37.193, P = 0.002), CE-plaque length ≥ 3 cm (OR = 6.247, 95%CI 2.162–18.052, P < 0.001), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (2DM) (OR = 4.072, 95%CI 1.598–10.374, P = 0.003) were independent risk factors of PMI. The long-term (mean 76 months) MACCE in the LAD group, RCA group, and multi-vessels group were 13.85%, 17.91%, and 10.64%, respectively (P = 0.552). Cox analysis indicated that PMI (HR = 7.113, 95%CI 3.129–16.171, P < 0.001) and Age ≥ 65 years (HR = 2.488, 95%CI 1.214–5.099, P = 0.013) increased the risk of long-term MACCE.ConclusionsMulti-vessel CE and CE-plaque length ≥ 3 cm significantly increased risk of PMI after OPCABG + CE, but the territory and number of CE did not affect long-term MACCE.

Neuromodulation in patients with refractory angina pectoris: a review.

The number of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who have persisting angina pectoris despite optimal medical treatment known as refractory angina pectoris (RAP) is growing. Current estimates indicate that 5-10% of patients with stable CAD have RAP. In absolute numbers, there are 50 000-100 000 new cases of RAP each year in the USA and 30 000-50 000 new cases each year in Europe. The term RAP was formulated in 2002. RAP is defined as a chronic disease (more than 3 months) characterized by diffuse CAD in the presence of proven ischaemia which is not amendable to a combination of medical therapy, angioplasty, or coronary bypass surgery. There are currently few treatment options for patients with RAP. One such last-resort treatment option is spinal cord stimulation (SCS) with a Class of recommendation IIB, level of evidence B in the 2019 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the diagnosis and management of chronic coronary syndromes. The aim of this review is to give an overview of neuromodulation as treatment modality for patients with RAP. A comprehensive overview is given on the history, proposed mechanism of action, safety, efficacy, and current use of SCS.

Outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting with coronary endarterectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of recent studies.

Objective: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the short-term and long-term outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with coronary endarterectomy (CE) versus isolated CABG.Methods: Studies evaluating outcomes of CABG with CE (CE-CABG) were searched from 1 January 2000 to 30 September 2022, on PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. The primary outcome was 30-days mortality. Secondary outcomes were postoperative myocardial infraction, low output syndrome, cardiac arrhythmia, renal dysfunction, and 5years survival.Results: A total of 12 observational studies including 114,319 patients assessing CE-CABG (n = 35,174) versus isolated CABG (n = 79,145) were included. Compared to isolated CABG alone, CE-CABG was significantly associated with increased incidences of 30-days mortality (RR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.73-2.07; p < 0.01), postoperative myocardial infraction (RR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.26-2.05; p < 0.01), low output syndrome (RR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.17-2.02; p < 0.01), and renal dysfunction (RR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.44-1.69; p < 0.01). However, there was no difference in either rate of cardiac arrhythmia (RR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.97-1.15; p = 0.20) or 5years survival (RR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.95-1.16; p = 0.34) between the CE-CABG group and the control group. Subgroup analysis on CE technique showed that CE-CABG was also associated with 30days mortality in patients undergoing closed CE (RR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.09-2.03), whereas this association between CE and 30days mortality was not observed in patients undergoing open CE (RR, 1.76; 95% CI, 0.58-5.32).Conclusions: Despite poor short-term outcomes, CE-CABG appeared to offer satisfactory long-term survival in patients with diffuse coronary artery disease.

483 CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROSIS PHENOTYPES IN FOCAL AND DIFFUSE DISEASE

Abstract Introduction The pathophysiological interplay between coronary physiology and plaque characteristics remains poorly understood. Pullback pressure gradient (PPG) is a novel physiological index that discriminates focal from diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD) based on coronary physiology. We aimed to compare plaque characteristics using between atherosclerotic patterns defined by coronary physiology. Methods Multicenter, prospective, controlled, single-arm study conducted in five countries (NCT03782688). Patients with functionally significant lesions based on invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR&amp;lt;0.80) were included. Subjects underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) with quantitative plaque analysis followed by an invasive procedure with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and motorized intracoronary pressure recordings. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) pullback curves were processed to calculate the PPG. The PPG ranges from 0, indicating diffuse disease, to 1, pointing to focal CAD. Focal and diffuse CAD were defined according to the median PPG value. Results Overall, 117 patients (120 vessels) were included. The mean age was 64±9, 80% were male, and 22% had diabetes (no difference between focal vs. diffuse). Median PPG was 0.66 [0.54, 0.75]. In CCTA analysis, the plaque burden at minimum lumen area was higher in patients with focal CAD (87±8% focal vs. 82±10% diffuse, p=0.003). Calcifications were significantly more prevalent in patients with diffuse CAD (Agatston score per vessel 50 [9, 166] focal vs. 151 [46, 360] diffuse, p=0.019). In OCT plaque analysis, patients with focal CAD had a significantly higher prevalence of circumferential lipid-rich plaque (37% focal vs. 4% diffuse, p=0.001) and thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA 47% focal vs. 10% diffuse, p=0.002). High PPG predicted the presence of TCFA with an AUC of 0.73 (95% CI 0.58 to 0.87). PPG and fibrous cap thickness were negatively correlated (r=-0.55, 95% CI -0.74 to -0.28) independently of FFR. Conclusions Atherosclerotic plaque phenotypes associate with intracoronary hemodynamics. Vessels with focal disease (high PPG) had a higher plaque burden and predominantly lipid-rich plaque with a high prevalence of TCFA, whereas calcifications were the hallmark of vessels with diffuse pressure loss.

219 ISOLATED CORONARY OSTIAL STENOSIS DUE TO RECURRENT AORTIC WALL THROMBOSIS

Abstract Background Coronary ostial lesions are a rare entity and isolated coronary ostial stenosis is even less frequent. Diffuse coronary artery atherosclerosis is the main cause for the non-isolated stenosis, based on old post-mortem series and histological analysis of tissue removed during atherectomies. Case presentation A 49-year-old woman suffering from mild non-familial hypercholesterolemia reported to her family physician repeated episodes of chest pain related to exercise. During a cardiological outpatient evaluation, 12 lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiography turned out normal. During a stress test she had recurrent chest pain coupled with ECG ischemic changes (diffuse ST segment elevation). She was immediately referred to the emergency department where the ECG was back to normal and the troponin dosage within normal range. Coronary angiography was performed: non-selective cannulation revealed some irregularities of the aortic wall profile at the level of the right coronary ostium, with inability to visualize the right coronary artery. The selective cannulation of the left main coronary artery (LMCA), left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex branches showed a critical ostial stenosis at the origin of the LMCA without any other relevant lumen restriction, in a left-dominant pattern of coronary circulation. A suspicion of LAD dissection was raised when a laminar flux was observed at its origin. At the end of the procedure, the patient suddenly collapsed. The recorded rhythm was initially bradycardia, evolving to episodes of ventricular tachycardia for which multiple shocks were applied. Despite the resuscitation efforts, the patient never recovered. Autopsy was performed at the local hospital. At gross analysis, a non-uniform pale-tan thickening at the level of the sino-tubular junction was evident with involvement of both the right and left coronary ostia. Histological examination allowed to ascribe the thickening to recurrent thrombosis, without any underlying inflammatory process at the level of the aortic wall and with only minimal atherosclerotic plaques. No coronary artery dissection nor significant stenosis was present in all the coronary tree. Regarding the ventricular myocardium, one focus of replacement-type fibrosis was identified at subendocardial level in the infero-septal wall coupled with a small spot of loose connective tissue rich in hemosiderin-laden macrophages in the same region, consistent with an area of subacute ischemic damage. Conclusion Several series reported a higher frequency of isolated coronary ostial stenosis in women versus men. In fact, female sex along with hypertriglyceridemia have been recognized as independent risk factors for ostial lesions. The case herein reported highlights the diagnostic relevance of the autopsy investigation together with clinicopathological correlation, particularly in cases where the definite diagnosis can't be achieved in vivo.

1154 MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN A TRANSGENDER FEMALE UNDERGOING HORMONE THERAPY: THE IMPACT PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO HORMONE THERAPY

Abstract Background Gender Identity (GI) is defined by a complex interplay between biological, psychological, environmental, and cultural factors. Health care services provide counseling, hormone treatment, and gender-affirming surgery. Testosterone is used for cross-sex hormone therapy in female-to-male transgender persons. Previous evidence suggests that testosterone administration is associated with hypertension, decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL), increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and obesity, thus increasing cardiovascular risk. Hereafter, we report the case of a patient female-to-male on testosterone therapy undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and stent implantation for acute myocardial infarction. Case Description A 44-year-old Italian transgender (female-to-male) without common cardiovascular risk factors and family risk was admitted to the local emergency room with a sudden onset of anterior chest pain. The electrocardiogram showed anterior ST-Segment Elevation, and accordingly, the patient was transferred to our Institution for emergency coronary angiography. Past medical history revealed breast reduction, osteosynthesis of the right femur, hemorrhoidal pathology, and iron deficiency anemia. Of interest, drug history revealed a hormonal therapy with intramuscular testosterone undecanoate over the from 2005 for gender conversion (250 mg every 3 weeks) and Tamoxifen 20 mg/die from 2006. The coronary angiography performed after 90 minutes to the symptom onset revealed a total occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) and minimal atherosclerosis of the remaining vessels. Recanalization of the LAD was achieved by pre-dilatations with a 2.5×15mm balloon catheter, showing diffuse atherosclerosis of the middle and distal LAD involving the origin of a diagonal branch (Medina 1,1,1). Then the lesion was treated with the implantation of three drug-eluting stents in overlap, followed by POBA (Plain Old Balloon Angioplast) of the diagonal branch with a 2.5×12 mm balloon at the ostium (Final TIMI flow III). The patient was then moved to the intensive care unit. Laboratory tests showed an altered lipid panel (overall cholesterol 210 mg/dl and LDL-cholesterol 153 mg/dl), elevated levels of cardiac enzymes (CK-MB 92.5 ng/ml, myoglobin 1606 ng/ml, TnT hs 1014 ng/L and NTproBNP 1263 pg/ml) and anaemia (Hb 9,1 mg/dl). The echocardiogram revealed akinesia of the apex with thrombotic formation (2.0×1.0 mm) and mid-distal anterior wall, with a 40% ejection fraction. Accordingly, parenteral anticoagulant was started. No further complications were observed the day after the procedure, with a progressive reduction of the miocardionecrosis enzymes and thrombotic formation. Ten days after, at the resolution of the thrombotic formation, the patient was discharged. Discussion This case report highlights the importance of primary prevention in patients undergoing long-term testosterone therapy for gender conversion, regardless of age and risk factors. For instance, prior evidence about the risk of recurrent ischemic events in these high-risk patients is poor with a high heterogeneity across the studies. Accordingly, high quality prospective and multicentric studies are needed to assess if there is a correlation between hormonal therapy for gender conversion and cardiovascular disease.

INNOVATIONS IN DIAGNOSTIC METHODS: NUCLEAR MEDICINE — MYOCARDIAL PERFUSION, FLOW RESERVE AND MYOCARDIAL VIABILITY

Nuclear Medicine, by integrating information on relative myocardial perfusion, ventricular function and absolute quantitative data such as myocardial blood flow and coronary flow reserve, expands and modifies the scope of evaluation of patients with chronic coronary insufficiency. These measures are producing a paradigm shift in the assessment and management of patients with CAD, allowing the definition of a broad spectrum of coronary vascular dysfunction. These quantitative tools provide a measure of the integrated effects of focal coronary stenoses, diffuse atherosclerosis, and microvascular dysfunction on myocardial perfusion. This data set allows improving the diagnosis and assessment of the extent of epicardial disease, reclassifying the prognosis, demonstrated through robust literature data that confirm the incremental value over other variables in the risk stratification of patients with ischemic heart disease, and allow to identify coronary microcirculatory disease with or without epicardial CAD. A more accurate and sensitive assessment of myocardial tissue ischemia is then obtained. This chapter explores these possibilities, the assessment of myocardial viability, and the future perspectives of Nuclear Medicine, which include the development of new radiopharmaceuticals focused on molecular imaging and the creation of new hybrid devices that combine functional and anatomical information in a single test

Pre-procedural planning of coronary revascularization by cardiac computed tomography: An expert consensus document of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for detecting coronary artery disease (CAD) and a key role in the management of patients with low-to-intermediate pretest likelihood of CAD. However, the clinical information provided by this noninvasive method is still regarded insufficient in patients with diffuse and complex CAD and for planning percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and surgical revascularization procedures. On the other hand, technology advancements have recently shown to improve CCTA diagnostic accuracy in patients with diffuse and calcific stenoses. Moreover, stress CT myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI) and fractional flow reserve derived from CCTA (CT-FFR) have been introduced in clinical practice as new tools for evaluating the functional relevance of coronary stenoses, with the possibility to overcome the main CCTA drawback, i.e. anatomical assessment only. The potential value of CCTA to plan and guide interventional procedures lies in the wide range of information it can provide: a) detailed evaluation of plaque extension, volume and composition; b) prediction of procedural success of CTO PCI using scores derived from CCTA; c) identification of coronary lesions requiring additional techniques (e.g., atherectomy and lithotripsy) to improve stent implantation success by assessing calciumscore and calcific plaque distribution; d) assessment of CCTA-derived Syntax Score and Syntax Score II, which allows to select the mode of revascularization (PCI or CABG) in patients with complex and multivessel CAD. The aim of this Consensus Document is to review and discuss the available data supporting the role of CCTA, CT-FFR and stress CT-MPI in the preprocedural and possibly intraprocedural planning and guidance of myocardial revascularization interventions.

Differential Improvement in Angina and Health-Related Quality of Life After PCI in Focal and Diffuse Coronary Artery Disease

BackgroundAn increase in fractional flow reserve (FFR) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with improvement in angina. Coronary artery disease (CAD) patterns (focal vs diffuse) influence the FFR change after stenting and may predict angina relief. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the differential improvement in patient-reported outcomes after PCI in focal and diffuse CAD as defined by the pullback pressure gradient (PPG). MethodsThis is a subanalysis of the TARGET-FFR (Trial of Angiography vs. pressure-Ratio-Guided Enhancement Techniques–Fractional Flow Reserve) randomized clinical trial. The 7-item Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ-7) was administered at baseline and 3 months after PCI. The PPG index was calculated from manual pre-PCI FFR pullbacks. The median PPG value was used to define focal and diffuse CAD. Residual angina was defined as an SAQ-7 score <100. ResultsA total of 103 patients were analyzed. There were no differences in the baseline characteristics between patients with focal and diffuse CAD. Focal disease had larger increases in FFR after PCI than patients with diffuse disease (0.30 ± 0.14 vs 0.19 ± 0.12; P < 0.001). Patients with focal disease who underwent PCI for focal CAD had significantly higher SAQ-7 summary scores at follow-up than those with diffuse CAD (87.1 ± 20.3 vs 75.6 ± 24.4; mean difference = 11.5 [95% CI: 2.8-20.3]; P = 0.01). After PCI, residual angina was present in 39.8% but was significantly less in those with treated focal CAD (27.5% vs 51.9%; P = 0.020). ConclusionsResidual angina after PCI was almost twice as common in patients with a low PPG (diffuse disease), whereas patients with a high PPG (focal disease) reported greater improvement in angina and quality of life. The baseline pattern of CAD can predict the likelihood of angina relief. (Trial of Angiography vs. pressure-Ratio-Guided Enhancement Techniques–Fractional Flow Reserve [TARGET-FFR]; NCT03259815)

Hyperlipoproteinemia(a) and Severe Coronary Artery Lesion Types.

Diffuse atherosclerosis and calcification of the coronary arteries (CA) create serious difficulties for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The aim of this study was to compare demographic indicators, lipids, and clinical results one year after CABG in patients with different phenotypes of coronary artery (CA) disease. In total, 390 patients hospitalized for elective CABG were included in a single-center prospective study. Demographic data, lipids (total, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides), and lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) concentrations were analyzed for all patients. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) included myocardial infarction, stroke, percutaneous coronary intervention, and death from cardiac causes within one year after surgery. No significant outcome differences were found between the groups with diffuse vs. segmental lesions, nor the groups with and without calcinosis for all studied parameters except for Lp(a). Median Lp(a) concentrations were higher in the group of patients with diffuse compared to segmental lesions (28 vs. 16 mg/dL, p = 0.023) and in the group with calcinosis compared to the group without it (35 vs. 19 mg/dL, p = 0.046). Lp(a) ≥ 30 mg/dL was associated with the presence of diffuse lesions (OR = 2.18 (95% CI 1.34-3.54), p = 0.002), calcinosis (2.15 (1.15-4.02), p = 0.02), and its combination (4.30 (1.81-10.19), p = 0.0009), irrespective of other risk factors. The risk of MACE within one year after CABG was higher for patients with combined diffuse and calcified lesions vs. patients with a segmental lesion without calcinosis (relative risk = 2.38 (1.13-5.01), p = 0.02). Conclusion: Diffuse atherosclerosis and coronary calcinosis are associated with elevated Lp(a) levels, independent of other risk factors. The risk of MACE in the first year after surgery is significantly higher in patients with diffuse atherosclerosis and coronary calcinosis, which should be considered when prescribing postoperative treatment for such patients.