Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction Frame Count Research Articles

Epicardial fat volume is associated with primary coronary slow-flow phenomenon in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter valve implantation

BackgroundPrimary coronary slow flow (CSF) is defined as delayed opacification of the distal epicardial vasculature during coronary angiography in the absence of relevant coronary artery stenoses. Microvascular disease is thought to be the underlying cause of this pathology. Epicardial fat tissue (EFT) is an active endocrine organ directly surrounding the coronary arteries that provides pro-inflammatory factors to the adjacent tissue by paracrine and vasocrine mechanisms. The aim of the present study was to investigate a potential association between EFT and primary CSF and whether EFT can predict the presence of primary CSF.MethodsBetween 2016 and 2017, n = 88 patients with high-grade aortic stenosis who were planned for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) were included in this retrospective study. EFT volume was measured by pre-TAVI computed tomography (CT) using dedicated software. The presence of primary CSF was defined based on the TIMI frame count from the pre-TAVI coronary angiograms.ResultsThirty-nine of 88 TAVI patients had CSF (44.3%). EFT volume was markedly higher in patients with CSF (142 ml [IQR 107–180] vs. 113 ml [IQR 89–147]; p = 0.009) and was strongly associated with the presence of CSF (OR 1.012 [95%CI 1.002–1.021]; p = 0.014). After adjustment, EFT volume was still an independent predictor of CSF (OR 1.016 [95%CI 1.004–1.026]; p = 0.009).ConclusionPrimary CSF was independently associated with increased EFT volume. Further studies are needed to validate this finding and elucidate whether a causal relationship exists.

C-20 | Assessing the Relationship between TIMI Frame Count and Index of Microvascular Resistance in Hemodynamically-Stratified Subgroups of Patients with Ischemia and Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries

C-20 | Assessing the Relationship between TIMI Frame Count and Index of Microvascular Resistance in Hemodynamically-Stratified Subgroups of Patients with Ischemia and Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries

Correlation Between Corrected TIMI Frame Count with the Extent of Myocardial Fibrosis on ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background: Microvascular injury after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) reperfusion contributes to necrosis propagation. Corrected TIMI Frame Count (CTFC) is a surrogate marker of microvascular dysfunction and can stratify in-hospital mortality risk in patients with final TIMI flow 3. The extent of myocardial fibrosis after STEMI is associated with a higher incidence of major cardiovascular events. This study aimed to determine the relationship between CTFC in the infarct-related artery and myocardial fibrosis area based on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in STEMI patients undergoing PPCI.Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 31 STEMI patients who had undergone PPCI and CMR examination between days 60 and 75 after STEMI as the sample. CTFC was measured in the infarct-related artery from post-PPCI angiogram recordings. Myocardial fibrosis area was measured from late gadolinium enhancement CMR (LGE-CMR) imaging results.Results: In this study, the mean age was 51.61±10.49 years, 90.3% were male, non-anterior infarction location was 58.1%, mean total ischemic time was 489.48±228.33 minutes, mean CTFC was 27.4±9.3 frames, and mean myocardial fibrosis was 18.33±7.87%. There was no significant correlation found between CTFC and myocardial fibrosis (p=0.530), however total ischemic time had a positive and significant correlation with myocardial fibrosis (p=0.025, r=0.403).Conclusion: CTFC in the infarct-related artery is not correlated with myocardial fibrosis area in STEMI patients undergoing PCI.

Predictors of non-obstructive coronary slow flow in poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundCoronary slow flow (CSF) can occur due to various factors, such as inflammation, small vessel disease, endothelial dysfunction, and inadequate glucose control. However, the exact pathological mechanisms behind CSF remain incompletely understood.The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with slow coronary flow in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) who have non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and experience CSF.MethodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study involving 120 patients with T2DM who were referred for invasive coronary angiography due to typical chest pain or inconclusive results from non-invasive tests for myocardial ischemia. Using a 2 × 2 design, we categorized patients into groups based on their glycemic control (adequate or poor) and the presence of CSF (yes or no), defined by a TIMI frame count > 27. All patients had non-obstructive CAD, characterized by diameter stenosis of less than 40%. We identified many variables associated with CSF.ResultsOur investigation revealed no significant differences in age, sex, family history of coronary artery disease, ECG ischemia abnormalities, or echocardiographic (ECHO) data between the groups. In patients with adequate glycemic control, hypertension increased the risk of CSF by 5.33 times, smoking by 3.2 times, while dyslipidemia decreased the risk by 0.142. Additionally, hematocrit increased the risk by 2.3, and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) increased the risk by 1.053.Among patients with poor glycemic control, hematocrit increased the risk by 2.63, and the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) by 24.6. Notably, NLR was positively correlated with glycemic control parameters in T2DM patients with CSF.ConclusionsIn T2DM patients with CSF, various factors strongly correlate with glycemic control parameters and can be employed to predict the likelihood of CSF. These factors encompass hypertension, smoking, increased body mass index (BMI), elevated platelet count, hematocrit, NLR, PLR, and C-reactive protein (CRP).Trial registrationRegistry: ZU-IRB (ZU-IRB#9419–3-4-2022), Registered on: 3 April 2022, Email: IRB_123@medicine.zu.edu.eg.

Coronary Slow-Flow Phenomenon in Takotsubo Syndrome: The Prevalence, Clinical Determinants, and Long-Term Prognostic Impact.

Patients with takotsubo syndrome (TTS) may present coronary slow flow (CSF) in angiography performed in the acute myocardial infarction (MI). However, the detailed clinical relevance and its long-term impact remain poorly understood. Among 7771 MI patients hospitalized between 2012 and 2019, TTS was identified in 82 (1.1%) subjects. The epicardial blood flow was assessed with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) scale and corrected TIMI frame count (TFC), whereas myocardial perfusion with TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG). CSF was defined as TIMI-2 or corrected TFC > 27 frames in at least one epicardial vessel. CSF was identified in 33 (40.2%) TTS patients. In the CSF-TTS versus normal-flow-TTS group, lower values of left ventricular ejection fraction on admission (33.5 (25-40) vs. 40 (35-45)%, p = 0.019), more frequent midventricular TTS (27.3 vs. 8.2%, p = 0.020) and the coexistence of both physical and emotional triggers (9.1 vs. 0%, p = 0.032) were noted. Within a median observation of 55 months, higher all-cause mortality was found in CSF-TTS compared with normal-flow TTS (30.3 vs. 10.2%, p = 0.024). CSF was identified as an independent predictor of long-term mortality (hazard ratio 10.09, 95% confidence interval 2.12-48.00, p = 0.004). CSF identified in two-fifths of TTS patients was associated with unfavorable long-term outcomes.

Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Is Associated with the Phenomenon of Coronary Slow Flow in Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation

Introduction: Coronary slow flow phenomena (CSFP) are associated with endothelial and blood component abnormalities in coronary arteries. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) can damage the endothelium of the heart or blood vessels in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), causing changes in levels of biological indicators. Our aim was to analyze the relationship between ADMA and CSFP in NVAF patients. Methods: We consecutively enrolled 134 patients diagnosed with NVAF and underwent coronary angiography, 50 control patients without a history of atrial fibrillation and with normal coronary angiographic flow were included at the same time. Based on the corrected TIMI frame count (CTFC), the NVAF patients were categorized into two groups, CTFC ≤27 frames and CTFC >27 frames. Plasma ADMA, P-selectin (p-sel), von Willebrand factor (vWF), D-dimer (D-Di), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), and nitric oxide (NO) were detected by ELISA in the different groups. Results: We found that plasma ADMA levels were significantly higher among NVAF patients in the CTFC >27 grade group compared with the control or CTFC ≤27 group. In addition, the levels of blood cells and endothelium-related biomarkers (NO, P-selectin, vWF, D-Di, and PAI-1) were significantly altered and correlated with ADMA levels. Multifactorial analysis showed that plasma ADMA (odd ratio [OR; 95% CI]: 1.65 [1.21–2.43], p < 0.001) and left atrial internal diameter (OR [95% CI]: 1.04 [1.02, 1.1], p < 0.001) could be used as independent risk factors for the development of CSFP in patients with NVAF. The ROC curves of ADMA can predict the development of CSFP in NVAF patients. The minimum diagnostic concentration for the development of CSFP in patients was 2.31 µmol/L. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that CSFP in NVAF patients was associated with high levels of ADMA and left atrial internal diameter. Therefore, aggressive preoperative detection and evaluation of ADMA and left atrial internal diameter can help deal with the intraoperative presence of CSFP.

Triglyceride glucose-body mass index as a novel predictor of slow coronary flow phenomenon in patients with ischemia and nonobstructive coronary arteries (INOCA)

BackgroundThe triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI index) has been suggested as a novel predictor of insulin resistance. However, its predictive value for slow coronary flow phenomenon (SCFP) in patients with ischemia and nonobstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) remains unclear.MethodsWe consecutively recruited 1625 patients with INOCA from February 2019 to February 2023 and divided them into two groups based on thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame counts (TFCs): the SCFP group (n = 79) and the control group. A 1:2 age-matched case–control study was then performed. The TyG-BMI index was calculated as ln [plasma triglyceride (mg/dL) × fasting blood glucose (mg/dL)/2] × BMI.ResultsTyG-BMI index in the SCFP group (218.3 ± 25.2 vs 201.0 ± 26.5, P < .001) was significantly higher than in the normal controls. TyG-BMI index also increased with the number of coronary arteries involved in the SCFP. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that TyG-BMI, BMI, and TG were independent predictors for SCFP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that when the TyG-BMI index was above 206.7, the sensitivity and specificity were 88.6% and 68.5%, respectively, with an AUC of 0.809 (95% CI: 0.756–0.863, P = .027). Combined BMI with TG, the TyG-BMI index had a better predictive value for SCFP than BMI and TG (P < .001).ConclusionThe TyG-BMI index was an independent predictor for SCFP in INOCA patients, and it had a better predictive value than BMI and TG.

Coronary slow flow and its correlation with reduced left ventricle global longitudinal strain: a case–control study

BackgroundCoronary slow flow (CSF) often links to inflammation and endothelial function disturbance. While conventional ejection fraction measurements fall short in identifying myocardial dysfunction, left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) has shown superior efficacy in this regard. Our study aimed to explore subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction by assessing LV GLS in patients diagnosed with coronary slow flow (CSF).MethodsThe study included sixty patients with CSF and sixty control individuals without CSF. Coronary angiography employed the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) frame count (TFC) to identify CSF. LV GLS values were evaluated and compared between the two groups.ResultsSignificantly reduced LV GLS was evident in the CSF group compared to the control group (− 16.18 ± 1.25 vs. − 19.34 ± 1.33, p < 0.001). A notable correlation (r = 0.492, p < 0.001) between LV GLS and TFC was observed in the CSF group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis highlighted reduced LV-GLS (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.57–3.09, p < 0.001) and smoking (OR 11.55, 95% CI 3.24–41.2, p < 0.001) as significant predictors for CSF presence. The receiver operating characteristic curve established that an LV GLS value of ≥ − 17.8% accurately predicted the presence of CSF (AUC: 0.958, 95% CI: 0.924–0.991, p < 0.001) with 90% specificity and 91.7% sensitivity.ConclusionOur study indicates that reduced LV GLS is associated with CSF presence, offering a valuable means to early detect subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in high-risk patients susceptible to heart failure.Trial registration: ZU-IRB#7038/12-7-2021 Registered 12 July 2021, email: IRB_123@medicine.zu.edu.eg.

Evaluation of serum nitric oxide synthase levels in patients with coronary slow flow based on corrected TIMI frame count.

The coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) finding in angiography is characterized by the delayed filling of the terminal vessels without significant epicardial coronary disease. The endothelium performs a vital role in cardiovascular homeostasis by releasing vasoactive substances. Endothelial cells produce nitric oxide (NO) as one of these essential compounds. Three isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) are endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). We aimed to determine the role of NOS in the development of CSFP as the first human study. A total of 129 patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. The patients were classified into five groups based on the results of coronary angiography: Group 1 without coronary artery disease (CAD) and without CSF, group 2 without CAD and with CSF, group 3 with CAD (< 50%) and without CSF, group 4 with CAD (50-90%) and without CSF, and group 5 with CAD and CSF. The serum level of NOS was determined in the participants. Coronary flow was quantified in patients with CSFP using the corrected TIMI frame count (CTFC) method, and the correlation between the levels of this biomarker and CTFC was investigated. In this study, the NOS serum levels were not significantly correlated with the mean CTFC. Since the total amount of NOS was measured as a result of 3 isoforms of this enzyme, the lack of correlation could be related to increased iNOS level and decreased eNOS concentration. These results should be confirmed by more human studies.

Multimodality assessment of the coronary microvasculature with TIMI frame count versus perfusion PET highlights coronary changes characteristic of coronary microvascular disease.

The diagnosis of coronary microvascular disease (CMVD) remains challenging. Perfusion PET-derived myocardial blood flow (MBF) reserve (MBFR) can quantify CMVD but is not widely available. Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) frame count (TFC) is an angiography-based method that has been proposed as a measure of CMVD. Here, we compare TFC and PET-derived MBF measurements to establish the role of TFC in assessing for CMVD. We use coronary modeling to elucidate the relationship between MBFR and TFC and propose TFC thresholds for identifying CMVD. In a cohort of 123 individuals (age 58 ± 12.1, 63% women, 41% Caucasian) without obstructive coronary artery disease who had undergone perfusion PET and coronary angiography for clinical indications, we compared TFC and perfusion PET parameters using Pearson correlation (PCC) and linear regression modeling. We used mathematical modeling of the coronary circulation to understand the relationship between these parameters and performed Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) analysis. We found a significant negative correlation between TFC and MBFR. Sex, race and ethnicity, and nitroglycerin administration impact this relationship. Coronary modeling showed an uncoupling between TFC and flow in epicardial vessels. In ROC analysis, TFC performed well in women (AUC 0.84-0.89) and a moderately in men (AUC 0.68-0.78). We established an inverse relationship between TFC and PET-derived MBFR, which is affected by patient selection and procedural factors. TFC represents a measure of the volume of the epicardial coronary compartment, which is increased in patients with CMVD, and performs well in identifying women with CMVD.

Intracoronary antithrombotic therapy during primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with STEMI: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

IntroductionThe efficacy of intracoronary (IC) antithrombotic therapy, which may best prevent the no-reflow phenomenon during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), remains unclear. Therefore, we compared the efficacy and safety of different IC antithrombotic agents. Materials and methodsThis systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) compared IC fibrinolytic agents (recombinant tissue plasminogen activators [rtPAs] and non-rtPAs) or glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (small molecules and monoclonal antibodies) with placebo by searching the relevant studies published before September 21, 2022. Bayesian network meta-analyses were performed using random-effects models. ResultsTwenty-five RCTs with 4546 patients were included. Non-rtPAs and small molecules were significantly more effective in achieving thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) grade 3 flow than placebo (odds ratio [OR] 2.28, 95 % credible intervals [CrI] 1.24–4.13; OR 2.06, 95 % CrI 1.17–3.46). Moreover, these agents' efficacy was observed in other microcirculation-related outcomes, including TIMI myocardial perfusion grade 3, complete ST-segment resolution, and corrected TIMI frame counts. Within 6 months, small molecules were associated with both an improved left ventricular ejection fraction (MD 3.90, 95 % CrI 0.48–7.46) and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) reduction (OR 0.36, 95 % CrI 0.20–0.61). Non-rtPAs demonstrated a reduced MACE incidence within 6 months (OR 0.51, 95 % CrI 0.31–0.81). The results were consistent in the subgroup with a total ischemic time > 6 h. No significant differences in mortality or bleeding events were observed. ConclusionsIC non-rtPAs and small molecules may be effective for adjunctive therapy to PCI, particularly in patients with longer ischemia periods.

Pathogenetic role of neutrophil extracellular traps in coronary flow impairment following percutaneous coronary intervention in acute myocardial infarction patients -A multicenter study-

Abstract Background A suicidal function of neutrophils to ensnare and kill microbes by expelling neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) via histone citrullination and chromatin decondensation has emerged as it enhances local inflammation and thrombogenicity at the culprit lesion of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Purpose This multicenter study was aimed to examine 1) the histopathological feature of coronary thrombus with the NETs formation in AMI patients, and 2) the association of NETs with impaired coronary flow after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for AMI patients. Methods Coronary thrombi were obtained from 44 patients with AMI [male; 77%, age; 69±12(SD) y-o)]who underwent PCI within 24 hours from the onset. Aspirated thrombi were immediately bisected and frozen, and 5-µm thickness unstained sections were processed for polarized light microscopy (PLM) imaging and immunofluorescence staining. NETs were immunohistochemically defined when objects were co-stained with anti-myeloperoxidase and anti-citrullinated histone H3 antibodies (Figure A,B). Adjacent sections were stained with Masson’s trichrome to measure the whole thrombus area. The ImageJ1 software was utilized for the automatic segmentation on the digitized histology images. Segmented NETs area was divided by the thrombus area as a measure of NETs. Clinical characteristics, including AMI subset, post PCI final TIMI flow grade and TIMI frame count, were collected. Results All aspirated thrombi exhibited NETs (Figure A), and then subjects were split into 2 groups with a median value of NETs (62.8 x10-4 um2/um2); high-NETs and low-NETs groups. Patient characteristics were all comparable between the 2 groups. PLM results showed that birefringent crystals, suggestive of cholesterol crystals, were more frequently noted in the thrombi with high-NETs compared with those with low-NETs (50.0% vs. 13.6%, P=0.010). In the immunofluorescence, NETs were seen in the proximity of the crystals (Figure B). The multivariable analysis with covariates of age, sex, major coronary risk factors, MI related to left anterior descending artery and the onset to aspiration time revealed that the presence of birefringent crystals remained an independent predictor for high-NETs formation [OR=5.78, 95%CI=1.13-29.66, P=0.035]. In the high-NETs group, the prevalence of the final TIMI flow grade 3 was significantly lower than the low-NETs group (63.6% vs. 90.9 %, P=0.031). Likewise, there was a significant positive correlation between NETs area and TIMI frame count, defined as the number of cineframes required for contrast to reach a standardized distal coronary landmark (R=0.681, P&amp;lt;0.001). Conclusion The present study demonstrated that NETs were highly expressed in coronary thrombus aspirated from AMI patients in association with crystalline components, relating to coronary flow impairment following PCI in AMI patients.

Long-term outcomes of patients with ischemia and no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) - a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Myocardial ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) is an increasingly recognized syndrome that encompasses coronary vasomotor disorders such as coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) and coronary vasospasm. However, the prognosis of patients with INOCA is not well defined. Purpose To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of previous studies evaluating the long-term prognosis of patients with INOCA stratified by the underlying vasomotor disorder. Methods We searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases combining terms for INOCA and outcomes to identify observational studies evaluating the prognosis of patients with INOCA published between 1984 and 2021. The primary outcomes were composite of all-cause death and MI, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at annual intervals for up to 5-year follow-up. Meta-analytic averages with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the incidence of primary outcomes for INOCA, each INOCA endotype, and by method used to determine the diagnosis were calculated using the random effect models. Results We identified a total of 52 studies (19765 patients) meeting eligibility criteria. Of those, 22 included patients with vasospastic angina and 34 with microvascular angina. The rate of all-cause death and MI in the vasospastic angina group was 0.7 (95% CI 0.4-1.0)/100 patient-years [Figure 1] and the rate of MACE was 1.1 (95% CI 0.6-1.9)/100 patient-years [Figure 2]. For patients with microvascular angina the rate of all cause death and MI was 1.2 (95% CI 0.7-1.7)/100 patient-years [Figure 1] and the rate of MACE was 2.8 (95% CI 1.8-4.0)/100 patient-years [Figure 2]. Patients with evidence of microvascular dysfunction by non-invasive (CFR) or invasive (CFR, IMR, TIMI frame count) criteria had 2.7 times higher all-cause death and MI rates than patients whose diagnosis was established solely based on an abnormal exercise or imaging stress test (2.6 (95% CI, 0.8-5.1) vs. 0.7(95% CI, 0.4-1.2)/100 patient-years, p=0.034). Conclusions Overall, patients with INOCA have a low rate of MACE events or death, although there is heterogeneity based on the underlying phenotype. Patients with vasospastic angina have a relatively benign long-term prognosis, whereas patients with microvascular angina have a significantly higher rate of MACE at long-term follow-up. Among patients with microvascular angina, those with objective evidence of abnormal microvascular function (such as reduced CFR) had 2.7 times higher rates of all-cause death and MI.Incidence of all cause death and MIIncidence of MACE

Abstract 17163: The Relationship Between TIMI Frame Count, Microvascular Resistance, and Coronary Flow Reserve in Patients With Ischemia and Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries

Introduction: Ischemia and nonobstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) may be caused by coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), but coronary function testing for CMD is not routinely performed. Consensus statements include coronary flow reserve (CFR), an index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR), or coronary slow flow by corrected TIMI frame count (cTFC) &gt;25 as diagnostic for CMD. However, correlations between cTFC and invasive parameters of CMD are uncertain. Methods: Adults age ≥ 18 with INOCA (&lt;50% stenosis by invasive coronary angiography in all major epicardial coronary arteries) were prospectively enrolled. cTFC was measured from baseline angiography of the left anterior descending artery. Invasive coronary function testing using thermodilution techniques was performed to identify CMD, defined by IMR≥25 and/or CFR&lt;2.5. Relationships between cTFC and invasively derived CMD were evaluated. Results: Ninety-seven patients (mean age 60.4 ± 11 years; 80% female) underwent assessment; coronary slow flow was present in 46%. Coronary slow flow (cTFC&gt;25) had a sensitivity of 50%, a specificity of 57%, a positive predictive value of 53%, and a negative predictive value of 54% to identify CMD defined by IMR and/or CFR. cTFC weakly correlated with IMR (r=0.40, p&lt;0.001) and was not correlated with CFR (Pearson r=-0.03, p=0.73). Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated for cTFC to identify abnormal IMR (AUC = 0.64), CFR (AUC = 0.55), CMD (AUC = 0.59), and CMD endotypes of abnormal IMR with normal CFR (AUC = 0.65), abnormal CFR with normal IMR (AUC = 0.58), abnormal IMR and CFR (AUC = 0.54). Conclusions: Coronary slow flow by angiography was not a reliable indicator of CMD defined by abnormal IMR and/or CFR. Correlations between cTFC and IMR were poor and no correlation with CFR was observed. These findings raise questions regarding the relevance of coronary slow flow at baseline to assess microvascular pathology causing INOCA.

A Comparison of Dynamic SPECT Coronary Flow Reserve with TIMI Frame Count in the Treatment of Non-Obstructive Epicardial Coronary Patients.

Microvascular dysfunction in patients with non-obstructive epicardial coronary may aggravate patient's symptoms or lead to various clinical events. To investigate the correlation between dynamic single photon emission computed tomography (D-SPECT) derived coronary flow reserve (CFR) and TIMI frame count (TFC) in patients with non-obstructive epicardial coronary patients. Patients with suspected or known stable CAD who were recommended to undergo invasive coronary angiography were prospectively enrolled in this study. Those who had non-obstructive coronary received TIMI frame count (TFC) and D-SPECT. A cut-off value of >40 was defined as slow flow referred to TFC. A total of 47 patients diagnosed with non-obstructive coronary were enrolled. The mean age of patients was 66.09 ± 8.36 years, and 46.8% were male. Dynamic SPECT derived coronary flow reserve (CFR) was significantly correlated with TIMI frame count in 3 epicardial coronary (LAD: r=-0.506, P = 0.0003; LCX: r= -0.532, P = 0.0001; RCA: r= -0.657, P < 0.0001). The sensitivity and specificity of CFR in identifying abnormal TIMI frame count < 40 was 100.0% and 57.6% in LAD, 62.5% and 87.0% in LCX, 83.9% and 75.0% in RCA, respectively. The optimal CFR cut-off values were 2.02, 2.47, and 1.96 among the three vessels. In patients with non-obstructive coronary, CFR derived from D-SPECT was strongly correlated with TFC. This study demonstrates that that CFR may be an alternative non-invasive method for identifying slow flow in non-obstructive coronary.

Relationship between the Fibrinogen/Albumin Ratio and Microvascular Perfusion in Patients Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST-Elevated Myocardial Infarction: A Prospective Study.

Correct TIMI frame count (CTFC), myocardial blush grade (MBG), and ST-segment resolution (STR) are parameters used to evaluate reperfusion at the microvascular level in patients that have undergone primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) has been associated with thrombotic events in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and chronic venous insufficiency. To investigate the relationship of FAR with CTFC, MBG, and STR. Methods: The study included 167 consecutive patients who underwent successful pPCI for STEMI and achieved TIMI-3 flow. The cases were divided into two groups, high (>0.0765) and low FAR (≤0.0765), according to the cut-off value of this parameter in the receiver operator characteristic analysis (ROC). STR, CTFC, and MBG were used to evaluate myocardial reperfusion. P values<0.05 were considered statistically significant. CTFC value, SYNTAX score, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, low-density lipoprotein, glucose, and peak cTnT were significantly higher, whereas STR, MBG, and LVEF were lower in the high FAR group. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship between the FAR and STR (r=-0.666, p<0.001), MBG (-0.523, p<0.001), and CTFC (r=0.731, p≤0.001). According to the logistic regression analysis, FAR, glucose, peak cTnT, and pain to balloon time were the most important independent predictors of MBG 0/1, CTFC>28, and STR<50%).ROC analysis revealed that the cut-off value of FAR≥0.0765 was a predictor of incomplete STR with a sensitivity of 71.9 % and a specificity of 69.8 %, MBG0/1 with a sensitivity of 72.6 % and a specificity of 68.6 %, and CTFC >28 with a sensitivity of 76 % and a specificity of 65.8 %. FAR is an important independent predictor of microvascular perfusion in patients undergoing pPCI for STEMI.

TCT-84 The Significance of Final Corrected TIMI Frame Count in the Management of No-Reflow During Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

TCT-84 The Significance of Final Corrected TIMI Frame Count in the Management of No-Reflow During Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Towards refining of the proposed ECG-based index of coronary microvascular resistance (ECGMVR).

Assessment of the coronary microcirculation via noninvasive indices of coronary microvascular resistance (MVR), based on coronary angiography (AngioMVR) is currently implemented in patients undergoing coronary angiography, and it is employed by many laboratories. Recently, a proposal has been presented of a new index of MVR, based on the duration of the transient electrocardiogram repolarization and depolarization changes emerging during coronary angiography (ECGMVR). It is paramount that the ECGMVR, which does not require any special expertise, new equipment, additional personnel and costs, or prolongation of the catheterization procedure, undergoes correlation with currently utilized indices of AngioMVR, the TIMI frame count index, and the invasive indices assessing the coronary epicardial and microvasculature states, for its validation. Some additional insights are also included in the present communication for the refinement of ECGMVR implementation.

Effect of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors on coronary blood flow in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is known to be associated with endothelial dysfunction (ED). Reducing ED can attenuate the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. One of the indicators of ED is decreased coronary blood flow (CBF). Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is) are known to directly improve ED in both euglycemic and hyperglycemic conditions and have been shown to decrease the incidence of major cardiovascular events. We aimed to investigate whether SGLT-2is improves CBF in patients with T2DM, who have angiographically normal or nearly normal coronary arteries. In this single-center retrospective study, all patients who underwent coronary angiography between January 2017 and September 2022 were screened. We designed the study by dividing the patients into two groups - those who used conventional antidiabetic medications (CAM) together with SGLT-2is (patients using an SGLT-2 inhibitor for at least 3 months) and those who used only conventional antidiabetic medications. Of the 18,205 patients who underwent coronary angiography, 5,040 patients had T2DM. After exclusion, 288 patients were divided into two groups - those who used CAM together with SGLT-2is and those who used only CAM. CBF was assessed by thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame counting. Two hundred eighty-eight patients who had T2DM and met the inclusion criteria were included in our study. The patients were divided into two groups - those who used CAM together with SGLT-2is (n = 75) and those who used only CAM (n = 213). The median age in the group that used CAM together with SGLT-2is was 55 (51-64), where 52 (69.3%) patients were female. The mean TIMI frame count (TFC) was 23.5 in the group using CAM + SGLT-2is and 27.5 in the group using only CAM. In the multivariable linear regression analysis, the mean TFC was significantly lower in the group using CAM together with SGLT-2is compared to the group using only CAM [β-coefficient = -12.766, 95% Cl: -5.304; -3.887, p < 0.001]. Moreover, there was a statistically significant correlation between an increase in BMI and hemoglobin with an increase in the mean TFC [β-coefficient = 3.018, 95% Cl 0.037-0.175, p = 0.003 and β-coefficient = 2.316, 95% Cl 0.033-0.405, p = 0.021, respectively]. We have demonstrated that the use of SGLT-2is improves coronary artery blood flow in patients with T2DM who have normal or nearly normal coronary angiography.

Effect of Atherogenic Index of Plasma on Pre-Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Flow in Patients With ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Dyslipidemia is an important risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is primarily responsible, the importance of triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) has also been recognized. The present study investigated the effect of the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), in which atherogenic and protective lipoproteins were evaluated together, on the initial flow in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction. AIP was calculated as log(TG/HDL-cholesterol). Patients included in the study (n = 1535) were divided into Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade 0 and >0. AIP was found to be significantly different between 2 groups (.55 ± .23 vs .67 ± .21; P < .001). AIP was an independent predictor for pre-intervention TIMI flow (Odds Ratio: 2.778). A moderate correlation was found between TIMI frame count measurements, calculated in patients with TIMI 2-3, and AIP (Pearson correlation coefficient: .63, P < .001). In the receiver operating characteristic analysis, AIP showed the highest area under curve (AUC) compared with other lipid parameters for predicting vascular patency. The AUC of AIP was .634, the cut-off value was .59, and the sensitivity and specificity were 67.6% and 68.4%, respectively (P < .001). In conclusion, AIP was found to be an important marker affecting pre-percutaneous coronary intervention TIMI flow.