Pre-intervention Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging Research Articles

Protruding Aortic Plaque and Coronary Plaque Vulnerability.

Protruding aortic plaque is known to be associated with an increased risk for future cardiac and cerebrovascular events. However, the relationship between protruding aortic plaque and coronary plaque characteristics has not been systematically investigated. A total of 615 patients who underwent computed tomography angiography, and preintervention optical coherence tomography imaging were included. Coronary plaque characteristics were compared to evaluate coronary plaque vulnerability in patients with protruding aortic plaque on computed tomography angiography. 615 patients, the 186 (30.2%) patients with protruding aortic plaque were older and had more comorbidities such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and a prior myocardial infarction than those without. They also had a higher prevalence of coronary plaques with vulnerable features such as thin-cap fibroatheroma (85 [45.7%] versus 120 [28.0%], P<0.001), lipid-rich plaque (165 [88.7%] versus 346 [80.7%], P=0.014), macrophages (147 [79.0%] versus 294 [68.5%], P=0.008), layered plaque (117 [62.9%] versus 213 [49.7%], P=0.002), and plaque rupture (96 [51.6%] versus 111 [25.9%], P<0.001). Patients with protruding aortic plaque experienced more major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events, including all-cause mortality, nonfatal acute coronary syndromes, and stroke (27 [14.7%] versus 21 [4.9%], P<0.001; 8 [4.3%] versus 1 [0.2%], P<0.001; 5 [2.7%] versus 3 [0.7%], P=0.030; and 5 [2.7%] versus 2 [0.5%], P=0.013, respectively). The current study demonstrates that patients with protruding aortic plaque have more features of coronary plaque vulnerability and are at increased risk of future adverse events.

Cholesterol crystals at the culprit lesion in patients with acute coronary syndrome are associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes at two years follow up - results from the translational OPTICO-ACS study program

BackgroundCholesterol crystals (CCs) represent a feature of advanced atherosclerotic plaque and may be assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Their impact on cardiovascular outcomes in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is yet unknown. MethodsThe culprit lesion (CL) of 346 ACS-patients undergoing preintervention OCT imaging were screened for the presence of CCs and divided into two groups accordingly. The primary end-point was the rate of major adverse cardiac events plus (MACE+) consisting of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization and re-hospitalization due to unstable or progressive angina at two years. ResultsAmong 346 patients, 57.2% presented with CCs at the CL. Patients with CCs exhibited a higher prevalence of ruptured fibrous caps (RFC-ACS) (79.8% vs. 56.8%; p < 0.001) and other high-risk features such as thin cap fibroatheroma (80.8% vs. 64.9%; p = 0.001), presence of macrophages (99.0% vs. 85.1%; p < 0.001) as well as a greater maximum lipid arc (294.0° vs. 259.3°; p < 0.001) at the CL as compared to patients without CCs. MACE+ at two years follow-up occurred more often in CC-patients (29.2% vs. 16.1%; p = 0.006) as compared to patients without CCs at the culprit site. Multivariable cox regression analysis identified CCs as independent predictor of MACE+ (HR 1.705; 1.025–2.838 CI, p = 0.040). ConclusionsCCs were associated with conventional high-risk plaque features and associated with increased MACE+-rates at two years follow up. The identification of CCs might be useful as prognostic marker in patients with ACS and assist “precision prevention” in the future.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Culprit Plaque Characteristics in Women With Acute Coronary Syndromes

Outcomes after myocardial infarction in women remain poor. The number of cardiovascular risk factors in women increase with age, however the relation between risk factors and culprit plaque characteristics in this population is poorly understood. The aim of the study was to investigate the relation between risk factors and culprit plaque characteristics in women with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A total of 382 women who presented with ACS and underwent pre-intervention optical coherence tomography imaging of the culprit lesion were included in this analysis. The culprit plaques were categorized as plaque rupture, plaque erosion or calcified plaque, and then stratified by age and risk factors. The predominant pathology of ACS was plaque erosion in young patients (<60years), which decreased with age (p <0.001). Current smokers had a high prevalence of plaque rupture (60%) and lipid plaque (79%). Women with diabetes tended to have more lipid plaque (70%) even at a young age. In women with hyperlipidemia, the prevalence of lipid plaques was modest in younger ages, but rose gradually with age (p <0.001). An increasing age trend for lipid plaque was also observed in women with hypertension (p=0.03) and current smokers (p=0.01). In conclusion, early treatment of risk factors such as diabetes in young women might be important before accelerated progression of atherosclerosis begins as age advances. Clinical trial registration: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01110538, NCT03479723 and NCT02041650.

Cardiovascular risk factors and underlying pathology and prevalence of lipid plaques in women with acute coronary syndromes in different age groups

Abstract Background An incidence of cardiovascular events increases with age in women. The relationship between cardiovascular risk factors, and the underlying pathology and the prevalence of lipid plaques has not been systematically studied in different age groups in women presented with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Purpose We investigated the underlying pathology and the prevalence of lipid plaques in culprit lesions by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in women with different risk factors. Methods A total of 382 women who underwent pre-intervention OCT imaging were included. The underlying pathology and the prevalence of lipid plaques in the culprit lesion was compared between women with and without cardiovascular risk factors (i.e. hypertension, smoking, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, family history and chronic kidney disease) in three different age groups (&amp;lt;60 yr, 60–70 yr, &amp;gt;70 yr). Results The relative prevalence of plaque erosion was higher in younger women (&amp;lt;60 yr) and decreased with age (from 51% to 28%, p&amp;lt;0.001). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of lipid plaques between women with and without risk factors, except a higher prevalence of lipid plaques in current smokers compared to non-smokers (79% vs. 63%, p=0.003). In women with hyperlipidemia, the prevalence of lipid plaques was modest in young ages (&amp;lt;60 yr), but increased steeply with age (p&amp;lt;0.001). The increasing age trend for lipid plaque was also observed in women with hypertension (p=0.03) and current smokers (p=0.01). In women with diabetes mellitus and family history, the prevalence of lipid plaques was high even in young ages (&amp;lt;60 yr) and did not increase with age. Conclusion The prevalence of plaque erosion was higher in younger women (&amp;lt;60 yr) and decreased with age. Current smokers had significantly higher prevalence of lipid plaque. Patients with diabetes and positive family history had a higher prevalence of lipid plaque at young age. The prevalence of lipid plaques increased with age particularly in women with hyperlipidemia and hypertension. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Foundation.

Optical Coherence Tomographic Features of Pancoronary Plaques in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Caused by Layered Plaque Rupture Versus Layered Plaque Erosion

Atherosclerotic plaque instability could occur on the basis of healed plaque which has a layered appearance on optical coherence tomography. This study aimed to investigate pancoronary plaque features of layered plaque rupture (LPR) and layered plaque erosion (LPE) in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Among 388 patients with acute myocardial infarction who underwent preintervention optical coherence tomography imaging of three coronary arteries, 190 patients with layered culprit plaque (49.0%) were identified and further divided into 2 groups: LPR group and LPE group. Clinical characteristics, pancoronary plaque features and clinical outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. Patients with LPR were older, less often male and current smoker, and had a lower coronary flow grade than those with LPE. At the culprit lesion, LPR group had a higher prevalence of lipid plaque, thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA), macrophage, and microchannel, and presented with more severe lumen area stenosis than LPE group. At nonculprit lesions, LPR group had a higher prevalence of TCFA and had greater layered tissue thickness and area than LPE group. The ischemia-driven revascularization rate was higher in LPR group. Moreover, we found that TCFA, diameter stenosis >56.5%, and mean lipid arc >179.1° were predictors for layered culprit plaque. In conclusion, patients with LPR had more vulnerable plaque features at culprit and nonculprit lesions and had higher incidence of ischemia-driven revascularization than those with LPE. TCFA, diameter stenosis >56.5%, and mean lipid arc >179.1° were predictors of layered culprit plaque.

Layered Plaque Characteristics and Layer Burden in Acute Coronary Syndromes

Recently, layered plaque, an optical coherence tomography equivalent of healed plaque, has been gaining attention. However, detailed layered plaque characteristics including the burden of plaque layer have not been investigated. Patients with acute coronary syndromes who underwent preintervention optical coherence tomography imaging of culprit lesion were included. Layer index, a product of the mean layer arc and layer length, was correlated with the pattern of layer and culprit pathology. In addition, layer index was compared between culprit and nonculprit plaques. Finally, predictors for greater layer index were identified using general linear modeling. In 349 patients, 99 culprit plaques had layered phenotype (28.4%), whereas among 465 nonculprit plaques, 165 had layered pattern (35.5%). Layer index was greater in multilayer pattern versus single-layer pattern (1,688.5 vs 996.6, p <0.001), interrupted layer phenotype versus intact layer phenotype (1,276.5 vs 646.8, p <0.001), rupture versus erosion at culprit lesion (1,191.0 vs 861.8, p <0.001), and culprit versus nonculprit plaque (1,475.6 vs 983.4, p <0.001). The general linear modeling revealed that multilayer pattern (regression coefficient b [B] 7.332, p <0.001), interrupted layer phenotype (B 4.624, p <0.001), culprit lesion (B 2.792, p=0.001), lipid-rich plaque (B 1.953, p=0.032), and culprit plaque rupture (B: 1.943, p=0.008) were the significant predictors for greater layer index. In conclusion, layer index (burden of layered plaque) was greater in multilayer pattern, interrupted layer phenotype, at culprit plaque, lipid-rich plaque, and in cases with culprit plaque rupture.

In vivo evidence of atherosclerotic plaque erosion and healing in patients with acute coronary syndrome using serial optical coherence tomography imaging

The EROSION study (Effective Anti-Thrombotic Therapy Without Stenting: Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography-Based Management in Plaque Erosion) allowed us to observe the healing process of coronary plaque erosion in vivo. The present study aimed to investigate the incidence of newly formed healed plaque and different baseline characteristics of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients caused by plaque erosion with or without newly formed healed plaque using optical coherence tomography (OCT). A total of 137 ACS patients with culprit plaque erosion who underwent pre-intervention OCT imaging and received no stent implantation were enrolled. Patients were stratified according to the presence or absence of newly formed healed phenotype at 1-month (137 patients) or 1-year OCT follow-up (52 patients). Patient's baseline clinical, angiographic, OCT characteristics and outcomes were compared. There were 55.5% (76/137) of patients developed healed plaque at 1 month, and 69.2% (36/52) of patients developed healed plaque at 1 year. Patients with newly formed healed plaque had larger thrombus burden, and lower degree of area stenosis (AS%) at baseline than those without, and thrombus burden and AS% were predictors of plaque healing. The healing process was accompanied by the significant increase of AS% and incidence of microchannels, and greater inflammatory response. The outcomes appeared to be similar between the two groups. Newly formed healed plaque was found in more than half of ACS patients with plaque erosion without stenting. Patients with newly formed healed plaque had lower luminal stenosis and larger thrombus burden. During healing process, luminal stenosis increased gradually.

Triglyceride glucose index combined with plaque characteristics as a novel biomarker for cardiovascular outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-elevated myocardial infarction patients: an intravascular optical coherence tomography study

Background and aimThis prospective study explored plaque morphology according to the underlying culprit lesion pathology (rupture versus erosion) in relation to the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index in patients with acute ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention and optical coherence tomography (OCT) for culprit lesions to elucidate the effects of the TyG index and type of plaque on the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs).Methods and outcomesA total of 274 patients with STEMI aged ≥ 18 years who underwent pre-intervention OCT imaging of culprit lesions between March 2017 and March 2019 were enrolled. The TyG index was calculated using the formula ln[fasting TG (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2]. Patients with plaque rupture (PR) and plaque erosion (PE) were divided into three groups across the TyG tertiles. MACEs were defined as a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI) recurrence, and ischaemic stroke.In fully adjusted analyses, the middle tertile of TyG was significantly associated with greater rates of MACEs in patients with PR but not in those with PE (relative to the low tertile, HR [hazard ratio], 6.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25–28.88; P = 0.025). Cox regression models indicated a significantly higher HR for MACEs in patients in the middle tertile of TyG than in those in the low tertile of TyG after full additional adjustment (HR, 5.45; 95% CI, 1.10–27.09; P = 0.038). However, being in the high tertile of TyG independently and significantly increased the risk of major bleeding events among patients with PE (HR, 2.50; 95% CI, 1.11–5.65; P = 0.028). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting MACEs to evaluate the diagnostic value of the TyG index combined with the morphological characteristics of plaque after full adjustment was 0.881 (sensitivity = 94.74%, specificity = 78.04%, cut-off level = 0.73). Kaplan–Meier curves were generated for the cumulative incidence of MACEs for up to a median of 1.98 years stratified by tertiles of TyG among the PR and PE subgroups. Among patients with PR, there were significant differences among the tertiles of TyG (p = 0.030).Conclusion and relevanceMicrostructural OCT features of culprit lesions in combination with the TyG index, a surrogate estimate of insulin resistance, can be used in clinical practice to support risk stratification and predict adverse events in patients with STEMI.

Predictors for layered coronary plaques: an optical coherence tomography study.

Healed coronary plaques, morphologically characterized by a layered pattern, are signatures of previous plaque disruption and healing. Recent optical coherence tomography (OCT) studies showed that layered plaque is associated with vascular vulnerability. However, factors associated with layered plaques have not been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate predictors for layered plaque at the culprit plaques and at non-culprit plaques. Patients with coronary artery disease who underwent pre-intervention OCT imaging of the culprit lesion were included. Layered plaques were defined as plaques with one or more layers of different optical density and a clear demarcation from underlying components. Among 313 patients, layered plaque at the culprit lesion was observed in 18.8% of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients, 36.3% of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome patients, and 53.4% of stable angina pectoris (SAP) patients (p < 0.001). In the multivariable model, SAP, multivessel disease, type B2/C lesion, and diameter stenosis > 70% were independent predictors for layered plaque at the culprit lesion. In addition, 394 non-culprit plaques in 190 patients were assessed to explore predictors for layered plaques at non-culprit lesions. SAP, and thin-cap fibroatheroma and layered plaque at the culprit lesion were independent predictors for layered plaques at non-culprit lesions. In conclusion, clinical presentation of SAP was a strong predictor for layered plaque at both culprit plaques and non-culprit plaques. Development and biologic significance of layered plaques may be related to a balance between pan-vascular vulnerability and endogenous anti-thrombotic protective mechanism.

Relationships of coronary culprit-plaque characteristics with duration of diabetes mellitus in acute myocardial infarction: an intravascular optical coherence tomography study

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) or pre-diabetes status is closely associated with features of vulnerable coronary lesions in patients with stable coronary heart disease or acute coronary syndrome. However, the association between duration of diabetes and the morphologies and features of vulnerable plaques has not been fully investigated in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).MethodsWe enrolled a total of 279 patients who presented with AMI between March 2017 and March 2019 and underwent pre-intervention optical coherence tomography imaging of culprit lesions. Patients with DM were divided into two subgroups: a Short-DM group with DM duration of < 10 years and a Long-DM group with DM duration of ≥ 10 years. Baseline clinical data and culprit-plaque characteristics were compared between patients without DM (the non-DM group), those in the Short-DM group, and those in the Long-DM group.ResultsPatients with DM represented 34.1% of the study population (95 patients). The Short- and Long-DM groups included 64 (67.4%) and 31 patients (32.6%), respectively. Glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were significantly higher in the Long-DM group than the Non- or Short-DM groups (8.4% [Long-DM] versus 5.7% [Non-DM] and 7.6% [Short-DM], P < 0.001). In addition, the highest prevalence of lipid-rich plaques, thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA), and plaque ruptures of culprit lesions were observed in the Long-DM group (lipid-rich plaques: 80.6% [Long-DM] versus 52.2% [Non-DM] and 62.5% [Short-DM], P = 0.007; TCFA: 41.9% [Long-DM] versus 19.6% [Non-DM] and 31.3% [Short-DM], P = 0.012; plaque rupture: 74.2% [Long-DM] versus 46.7% [Non-DM] and 48.4% [Short-DM], P = 0.017). The frequency of calcification was significantly higher among patients with DM than among those without (62.1% versus 46.2%, P = 0.016); however, no significant differences were found between the DM subgroups (61.3% [Long-DM] versus 62.5% [Short-DM], P = 0.999).ConclusionsIncreased duration of DM combined with higher HbA1c levels influences culprit-plaque characteristics in patients with DM who suffer AMI. These findings might account for the higher risks of cardiac death in DM patients with long disease duration.Trial registration This study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03593928

Healed Culprit Plaques in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes

BackgroundHealed plaques, morphologically characterized by a layered phenotype, are frequently found in subjects with sudden cardiac death. However, in vivo data are lacking. ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, morphological characteristics, and clinical significance of healed culprit plaques in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) using optical coherence tomography (OCT). MethodsA total of 376 ACS patients (252 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction [MI] and 124 non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome) who had undergone pre-intervention OCT imaging of the culprit lesion were enrolled. Patients were stratified according to the presence of layered phenotype, defined as layers of different optical density at OCT. Clinical and laboratory data, OCT characteristics, and 1-year outcome were compared between the 2 groups. ResultsAmong 376 patients, 108 (28.7%) healed plaques were identified. Hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and history of MI were more frequent in patients with healed plaques (44.4% vs. 33.2%; p = 0.041; 35.2% vs. 23.5%; p = 0.021; and 15.7% vs. 6.3%; p = 0.009, respectively). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein was significantly higher in patients with healed plaques (median 4.98 mg/l [interquartile range: 1.00 to 11.32 mg/l] vs. 3.00 mg/l [interquartile range: 0.30 to 10.15 mg/l]; p = 0.029). Plaque rupture (64.8% vs. 53.0%; p = 0.039), thin cap fibroatheroma (56.5% vs. 42.5%; p = 0.016), and macrophage accumulation (81.1% vs. 63.4%; p = 0.001) were common in the layered group. OCT also revealed greater area stenosis in plaques with layered phenotype (79.2 ± 9.5% vs. 74.3 ± 14.3%; p = 0.001). The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events was similar between the 2 groups, except that the all-cause rehospitalization rate was higher among healed plaques (32.7% vs. 16.5%; p = 0.013). ConclusionsHealed plaques, a signature of prior plaque destabilization, were found at the culprit site in more than one-quarter of ACS patients. Such patients more frequently were diabetic, were hyperlipidemic, or had a history of MI. Healed plaques frequently showed OCT features of vulnerability with evidence of local and systemic inflammation. The combination of plaque vulnerability, local inflammation, and greater plaque burden in addition to systemic inflammation may outweigh the protective mechanism of plaque healing and predispose those plaques to develop occlusive thrombus.

Calcified Plaques in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes

ObjectivesThis study conducted detailed analysis of calcified culprit plaques in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). BackgroundCalcified plaques as an underlying pathology in patients with ACS have not been systematically studied. MethodsFrom 1,241 patients presenting with ACS who had undergone pre-intervention optical coherence tomography imaging, 157 (12.7%) patients were found to have a calcified plaque at the culprit lesion. Calcified plaque was defined as a plaque with superficial calcification at the culprit site without evidence of ruptured lipid plaque. ResultsThree distinct types were identified: eruptive calcified nodules, superficial calcific sheet, and calcified protrusion (prevalence of 25.5%, 67.4%, and 7.1%, respectively). Eruptive calcified nodules were frequently located in the right coronary arteries (44.4%), whereas superficial calcific sheet was most frequently found in the left anterior descending coronary arteries (68.4%) (p = 0.012). Calcification index (mean calcification arc × calcification length) was greatest in eruptive calcified nodules, followed by superficial calcific sheet, and smallest in calcified protrusion (median 3,284.9 [interquartile range (IQR): 2,113.3 to 5,385.3] vs. 1,644.3 [IQR: 1,012.4 to 3,058.7] vs. 472.5 [IQR: 176.7 to 865.2]; p < 0.001). The superficial calcific sheet group had the highest peak post-intervention creatine kinase values among the groups (eruptive calcified nodules vs. superficial calcific sheet vs. calcified protrusion: 241 [IQR: 116 to 612] IU/l vs. 834 [IQR: 141 to 3,394] IU/l vs. 745 [IQR: 69 to 1,984] IU/l; p = 0.032). ConclusionsThree distinct types of calcified culprit plaques are identified in patients with ACS. Superficial calcific sheet, which is frequently located in the left anterior descending coronary artery, is the most prevalent type and is also associated with greatest post-intervention myocardial damage. (Identification of Predictors for Coronary Plaque Erosion in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome; NCT03479723)

Coronary Plaque Characteristics in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus Who Presented With Acute Coronary Syndromes.

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular events. We aimed to investigate the coronary plaque phenotype of diabetic patients who presented with acute coronary syndromes by optical coherence tomography.Methods and ResultsA total of 322 patients with acute coronary syndromes who underwent preintervention optical coherence tomography imaging of the culprit lesion were included. Culprit plaque characteristics were compared between patients with DM (n=95) and those without DM (n=227). In the subgroup of 250 patients in whom sufficient length of nonculprit region in the culprit vessel was imaged by optical coherence tomography, the characteristics of nonculprit plaques were also evaluated. Patients with DM had a higher prevalence of lipid‐rich plaque (58.9% versus 44.9%, P=0.030) and macrophage accumulation (60.0% versus 44.9%, P=0.019) in the culprit lesion compared with patients without DM. The prevalence of plaque rupture (33.7% versus 30.4%, P=0.896) and plaque erosion (21.1% versus 22.0%, P=0.458) was similar. In the nonculprit lesions, the DM group had greater maximal lipid arc (248.9°±83.9° versus 179.9°±58.3°, P=0.006), thinner fibrous cap thickness (103.3±56.2 μm versus 140.7±70.0 μm, P=0.013), and a higher prevalence of thin‐cap fibroatheroma (17.2% versus 6.3%, P=0.031), compared with the non‐DM group.ConclusionsCompared with patients without DM, those with DM had more vulnerable features in both culprit and nonculprit lesions, thus indicating a higher level of panvascular instability.Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01110538.

Optimizing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Calcified Lesions: Insights From Optical Coherence Tomography of Atherectomy.

Optimal coronary stent implantation is among the few successful strategies in preventing stent failures, notably in-stent restenosis and stent thrombosis.1 Understanding the intravascular milieu is a prerequisite for optimization of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Calcified lesions limit stent expansion, the most robust predictor of target lesion revascularization, and are thus associated with worst outcomes.2 Coronary angiography is a poor discriminator of calcium distribution and thickness. Reliance on angiography to guide PCI and define procedural success in severe coronary calcification is associated with poor outcomes.3 Both intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography (OCT) enable detailed evaluation of cross-sectional calcium distribution (angle of calcium), and OCT provides additional information on calcium thickness. The combination of large calcium angle (>270°) and thickness (>670 μm) predicts nondilatable lesions.4 OCT is the ideal method to capture these parameters and indicate or defer the use of atherectomy before stent implantation and guide optimization of PCI. Preintervention OCT imaging delineates plaque constituents and provides accurate measurements of the minimal lumen area, lesion length, and reference vessel diameters, as well as visualization of the projected stent landing zones. These parameters can be used for procedural planning, including proper lesion preparation and stent sizing. Knowledge of plaque characteristics can be used to select a plaque modification strategy prior to stent implantation and to minimize stent edge dissection at the stent landing zone.5 Calcified lesions pose a bigger challenge, with difficult device delivery, suboptimal stent expansion, and increased procedural time and complications. Although atherectomy facilitates stent delivery and improves procedural success and acute lumen gain, long-term outcomes in severely calcified lesions are not improved with the routine use of angiographically guided ablative techniques in the drug eluting stent era.6 Indiscriminate use of atherectomy can also increase procedural complications. Intravascular frequency domain OCT is the …

Nonculprit Plaque Characteristics in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Caused by Plaque Erosion vs Plaque Rupture

Patients with culprit plaque rupture are known to have pancoronary plaque vulnerability. However, the characteristics of nonculprit plaques in patients with acute coronary syndromes caused by plaque erosion are unknown. To investigate the nonculprit plaque phenotype in patients with acute coronary syndrome according to culprit plaque pathology (erosion vs rupture) by 3-vessel optical coherence tomography imaging. In this observational cohort study, between August 2010 and May 2014, 82 patients with acute coronary syndrome who underwent preintervention optical coherence tomography imaging of all 3 major epicardial coronary arteries were enrolled at the Massachusetts General Hospital Optical Coherence Tomography Registry database. Analysis of the data was conducted between November 2016 and July 2017. Patients were classified into 2 groups based on the culprit lesion pathology: 17 patients with culprit plaque erosion and 34 patients with culprit plaque rupture. Thirty-one patients with the absence of culprit rupture or erosion were excluded from further analysis. Preintervention 3-vessel optical coherence tomography imaging. Plaque characteristics at the culprit and nonculprit lesions evaluated by optical coherence tomography. In 51 patients (37 men; mean age, 58.7 years), the characteristics of 51 culprit plaques and 216 nonculprit plaques were analyzed. In patients with culprit erosion, the mean (SD) number of nonculprit plaques per patient was smaller (3.4 [1.9] in erosion vs 4.7 [2.1] in rupture, P = .05). Patient-based analysis showed that none of 17 patients with culprit plaque erosion had nonculprit plaque rupture, whereas 26% of the patients (9 of 34) with culprit plaque rupture had nonculprit plaque rupture (P = .02). Plaque-based analysis showed that, compared with the culprit rupture group (n = 158), the culprit erosion group (n = 58) had lower prevalence of plaque rupture (0% vs 8%; P < .001), macrophage accumulation (29% vs 53%; P = .01), microvessels (21% vs 42%; P = .003), and spotty calcium (5% vs 22%; P = .006) in the nonculprit lesions. The prevalence of lipid-rich plaque, thin-cap fibroatheroma, and thrombus did not differ between the groups. Compared with those with culprit plaque rupture, patients with acute coronary syndrome caused by culprit plaque erosion had a smaller number of nonculprit plaques and the lower levels of panvascular instability, affirming that distinct pathophysiologic mechanisms operate in plaque erosion and plaque rupture.

Relation Between Superficial Calcifications and Plaque Rupture: An Optical Coherence Tomography Study

BackgroundThere are several forms of calcium deposition, which play different roles in the stability of the coronary artery. It remains unknown whether certain calcification morphological characteristics determine rupture of lipid-rich lesions in the same plaque in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 550 patients with ACS between May 2008 and October 2014, who had undergone preintervention optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging examination. A total of 78 patients with 78 culprit lipid-rich lesions having superficial calcifications on OCT images were included in this study, among which 45 were ruptured lesions with calcium and 33 were nonruptured lipid-rich lesion with calcium. The smallest depth of calcium (CAL-DEP) was determined, and the morphology of the calcifications and plaques was analyzed during preintervention OCT imaging. ResultsThe CAL-DEP was significantly thinner in ruptured lesions with calcium than in nonruptured lipid-rich lesion with calcium (median, 50 [interquartile range (IQR), 33-63] μm vs 110 [73-208] μm; P < 0.001) and in myocardial infarction than in unstable angina pectoris patients (median, 57 [IQR, 36-78] μm vs median, 85 [IQR, 43-140] μm; P = 0.045). For lipid-rich calcified plaques, when CAL-DEP was < 63 μm, the lipid-rich lesion was most vulnerable and prone to rupture (sensitivity = 77.8%; specificity = 81.8%; area under the curve: 0.804; P < 0.0001). ConclusionsSmall CAL-DEP in lipid-rich calcified plaques is a morphological characteristic of a vulnerable plaque phenotype. A CAL-DEP ≤ 63 μm is the critical depth of calcification for lipid-rich calcified plaque rupture in patients with ACS.

Coronary Plaque Characteristics in Hemodialysis-Dependent Patients as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography

Coronary arteries in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been shown to exhibit more extensive atherosclerosis and calcium. We aimed to assess characteristics of coronary plaque in hemodialysis (HD)-dependent patients using optical coherence tomography (OCT). This was a multicenter, retrospective study of 124 patients with stable angina who underwent OCT imaging. Sixty-two HD-dependent patients who underwent pre-intervention OCT for coronary artery disease were compared 1:1 with a cohort of patients without CKD, matched for age, diabetes mellitus, gender, and culprit vessel. Baseline characteristics were comparable. Pre-intervention OCT imaging identified 62 paired culprit, 53 paired non-culprit, and 19 paired distal vessel lesions. Lesion length, minimum lumen area, and area stenosis were similar between groups. The HD-dependent group had greater mean calcium arcs in culprit (54.3° vs 26.4°, p= 0.004) and non-culprit lesions (34.3° vs 24.5°, p= 0.02) and greater maximum calcium arc in distal vessel segments (101.6° vs 0°, p= 0.03). There were no differences in lipid arcs between groups. There was a higher prevalence of thin intimal calcium, defined as an arc of calcium >30° within intima <0.5mm thick, in patients in the HD-dependent group (41.9% vs 4.8%, p<0.001). There was a higher prevalence of calcified nodules in the HD-dependent group (24.2% vs 9.7%, p= 0.049) but no differences in medial calcification or thin-cap fibroatheroma. In conclusion, in this OCT study, HD-dependent patients, compared with matched patients without CKD, had more extensively distributed coronary calcium and uniquely, a higher prevalence of non-atherosclerotic thin intimal calcium. This thin intimal calcium may cause an overestimation of calcium burden by intravascular ultrasound and may contribute to the lack of correlation between increased coronary artery calcification scores with long-term outcomes in patients with CKD.

Abstract 17859: Gender Difference in Underlying Plaque Morphology of the Culprit Lesion in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: an in vivo Optical Coherence Tomography Study

Introduction: Autopsy studies in sudden cardiac death subjects showed female had higher incidence of erosion. However, the incidence of erosion in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has not been systematically studied. Hypothesis: This study was to study the gender difference in the prevalence and morphological characteristics of the culprit lesion in patients with AMI using intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: A total of 79 patients (65 male and 14 female) with AMI who underwent pre-intervention OCT imaging of the culprit lesion were included. Results: Baseline characteristics between the two groups were similar. In OCT findings, the incidence of thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) was slightly lower and the fibrous cap thickness was slightly thicker in female than in male, but the differences were not significant. Defining underlying plaque morphology by genders, plaque erosion was more prevalent in female than in male, whereas plaque rupture was more frequent in male (Table). Conclusions: Erosion was the most frequent cause of AMI in female patients, whereas plaque rupture is the predominant underlying pathology of AMI in male patients.

In Vivo Diagnosis of Plaque Erosion and Calcified Nodule in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome by Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography

The aim of this study was to characterize the morphological features of plaque erosion and calcified nodule in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Plaque erosion and calcified nodule have not been systematically investigated in vivo. A total of 126 patients with ACS who had undergone pre-intervention OCT imaging were included. The culprit lesions were classified as plaque rupture (PR), erosion (OCT-erosion), calcified nodule (OCT-CN), or with a new set of diagnostic criteria for OCT. The incidences of PR, OCT-erosion, and OCT-CN were 43.7%, 31.0%, and 7.9%, respectively. Patients with OCT-erosion were the youngest, compared with those with PR and OCT-CN (53.8 ± 13.1 years vs. 60.6 ± 11.5 years, 65.1 ± 5.0 years, p = 0.005). Compared with patients with PR, presentation with non-ST-segment elevation ACS was more common in patients with OCT-erosion (61.5% vs. 29.1%, p = 0.008) and OCT-CN (100% vs. 29.1%, p < 0.001). The OCT-erosion had a lower frequency of lipid plaque (43.6% vs. 100%, p < 0.001), thicker fibrous cap (169.3 ± 99.1 μm vs. 60.4 ± 16.6 μm, p < 0.001), and smaller lipid arc (202.8 ± 73.6° vs. 275.8 ± 60.4°, p < 0.001) than PR. The diameter stenosis was least severe in OCT-erosion, followed by OCT-CN and PR (55.4 ± 14.7% vs. 66.1 ± 13.5% vs. 68.8 ± 12.9%, p < 0.001). Optical coherence tomography is a promising modality for identifying OCT-erosion and OCT-CN in vivo. The OCT-erosion is a frequent finding in patients with ACS, especially in those with non-ST-segment elevation ACS and younger patients. The OCT-CN is the least common etiology for ACS and is more common in older patients. (The Massachusetts General Hospital Optical Coherence Tomography Registry; NCT01110538).