Late Gadolinium Enhancement by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance and Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in the Evaluation of Cardiac Complications in Chagas Cardiomyopathy: A Systematic Review.

Background: Chagas cardiomyopathy (CC) increases cardiovascular mortality associated with congestive heart failure (CHF), ventricular arrhythmias (VA), and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Different imaging techniques have been tested to assess disease progression and cardiac risk in individuals with Chagas disease (ChD). In this systematic review, we evaluated the accuracy in detecting cardiac complications in CC patients using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). Methods: A search was done on PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase for studies in humans over 18 years of age with ChD. Demographic data, research methodology, imaging parameters, and cardiac outcomes were extracted, and study quality was assessed, resulting in a narrative description. Results: Twelve studies with 1124 patients were analyzed. One study discovered a contractility pattern by STE. Four studies assessed the identification of Early Cardiac Impairment (ECI) and VA risk, respectively, while three studies evaluated the risk of SCD. Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) identified patients with ECI (-18.5 ± 3.4% non-fibrosis vs -14.0 ± 5.8% fibrosis, p = 0.006 and -18 ± 2% non-fibrosis vs -15 ± 2% fibrosis, p = 0.004). The amount of fibrosis > 11.78% or in two or more contiguous transmural segments were markers for VA risk. GLS and the amount of fibrosis were found to be predictors of SCD. Conclusions: STE may be considered a screening technique for identifying the subclinical status of CHF. CMR using Late Gadolinium Enhancement (LGE) is considered a relevant parameter for stratifying patients with ChD who are at risk of SCD. Fibrosis and GLS can be used as markers to categorize patients at risk for arrhythmias.

Surgical planning aided with 3D technologies for management of complex paracardiac tumors.

BACKGROUND: Accurate diagnosis and treatment of complex cardiac tumors poses challenges, particularly when surgical resection is considered. 3D reconstruction and printing appear as a novel approach to allow heart teams for optimal surgical and post operative care. METHODS: We report two patients with uncommon masses including a cardiac angiosarcoma (CAS) and a IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) with exclusive cardiac involvement. In both cases, three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction and 3D-printed models were utilized to aid the surgical team achieve optimal pre-operative planning. Both patients underwent ECG-gated cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) imaging and, due to the complex anatomy of the masses, their large dimensions, proximity to vital cardiac and vascular structures, and unclear etiology, computational and 3D-printed models were created for surgical planning. An exploratory literature review of studies using 3D-printed models in surgical planning was performed. RESULTS: In case 1 (CAS), due to the size and extension of the mass to the right ventricular free wall, surgical intervention was not considered curative and, during thoracotomy, an open biopsy confirmed the imaging suspicion of CAS which guided the initiation of optimal medical treatment with chemotherapy and, after clear tumor retraction, the patient underwent a second surgical intervention, and during the 18 months of follow-up showed no signs of recurrence. In Case 2 (IgG4-RD), the patient underwent uncomplicated total surgical resection; this allowed directed treatment and, at 12 months follow-up, there are no signs of recurrence. Computational and 3D-printed models were used to plan the surgery and to confirm the findings. Limited studies have explored the use of 3D printing in the surgical planning of tumors. CONCLUSIONS: We present two patients with uncommon cardiac tumors, highlighting the significant value of 3D models in the anatomical characterization and assessment of their extension. These models may be essential in surgical planning for complex cardiovascular cases and could provide more information than conventional imaging modalities. Further studies are needed to demonstrate the impact of 3D technologies in studying cardiac tumors.

Echocardiographic Criteria to Differentiate Constrictive Pericarditis From Restrictive Cardiomyopathy: A Meta-analysis.

Background: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of the Mayo Clinic echocardiographic criteria for differentiating between constrictive pericarditis and restrictive cardiomyopathy. Methods: We searched electronic databases for the date range from their inception to July 1, 2022. The index tests were the Mayo Clinic echocardiographic criteria. We performed a bivariate random-effects model to estimate the pooled sensitivity and specificity, each with 95% confidence interval (CI). The area under the curve of the summary receiver operator characteristic curves, with 95% CI, was also calculated. Results: We included 17 case-control studies involving 889 patients. The pooled sensitivity and specificity (95% CI), respectively, were as follows: ventricular septal shift, 82% (60%-94%) and 78% (65%-87%); respiratory variation in mitral inflow ≥ 14.6%, 71% (51%-85%) and 82% (66%-91%); septal e' velocity ≥ 8 cm/s, 83% (80%-87%) and 90% (83%-95%); septal e' velocity/lateral e' velocity ≥ 0.88, 74% (64%-82%) and 81% (70%-88%); and hepatic vein ratio in expiration ≥ 0.79, 73% (65%-81%) and 71% (19%-96%). The area under the curve of the summary receiver operator characteristic curves varied from 0.75 to 0.85, with overlapping CIs across index tests. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggests that all echocardiographic parameters from the Mayo Clinic criteria have good diagnostic accuracy for differentiating between constrictive pericarditis and restrictive cardiomyopathy.

Contexte: Évaluation de l'exactitude diagnostique des critères échocardiographiques de la clinique Mayo visant à faire la distinction entre une péricardite constrictive et une cardiomyopathie restrictive. Méthodologie: Nous avons effectué une recherche dans des bases de données électroniques pour la période s'étendant de leur date de création au 1er juillet 2022. Les tests de concordance portaient sur les critères échocardiographiques de la clinique Mayo. Nous avons réalisé un modèle à effets aléatoires et à deux variables afin d'estimer la sensibilité et la spécificité en fonction des données regroupées, chacune avec un intervalle de confiance (IC) à 95 %. L'aire sous la courbe des courbes caractéristiques sommaires de la performance du test, avec un IC à 95 %, a également été calculée. Résultats: Nous avons inclus 17 études cas-témoins comptant 889 patients. Selon les données groupées, la sensibilité et la spécificité (IC à 95 %), respectivement, étaient les suivantes : déplacement du septum interventriculaire, 82 % (60 à 94 %) et 78 % (65 à 87 %); variation respiratoire lors du remplissage mitral ≥ 14,6 %, 71 % (51 à 85 %) et 82 % (66 à 91 %); vitesse eʹ mesurée en septal ≥ 8 cm/s, 83 % (80 à 87 %) et 90 % (83 à 95 %); rapport vitesse eʹ mesurée en septal/vitesse eʹ mesurée en latéral ≥ 0,88, 74 % (64 à 82 %) et 81 % (70 à 88 %); et rapport veineux hépatique lors de l'expiration ≥ 0,79, 73 % (65 à 81 %) et 71 % (19 à 96 %). L'aire sous la courbe des courbes caractéristiques sommaires de la performance du test variait de 0,75 à 0,85, avec des IC se chevauchant dans les tests de concordance. Conclusions: Notre méta-analyse laisse entendre que tous les paramètres échocardiographiques de la clinique Mayo ont une bonne exactitude diagnostique pour faire la distinction entre la péricardite constrictive et la cardiomyopathie restrictive.

Exercise-based training programs for patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: We assessed the effects of exercise-based training programs (EBTP) in patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We conducted a search in Pubmed/Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Virtual Health Library, and SciELO until January 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized intervention studies (NRIS) investigating the effects of EBTP in CCC patients were included. The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and the secondary outcomes were exercise capacity by peak VO2, heart failure-related hospital admissions (HFRHA), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Results: The search strategy yielded 3617 studies. After removing duplicates and screening, eight studies (3 RCTs and 5 NRIS) involving 222 patients were included. Seven studies were conducted in Brazil. The age range was from 30 to 71 years, and 47.1% were male. Data on mortality, HRQoL, LVEF, and HFRHA were scarcely reported. The meta-analysis pooling four studies showed that the peak VO2 was significantly higher (mean difference 4.45, 95% confidence interval 3.50 to 5.39 mL/kg/min, I2 = 0%) in the EBTP group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The evidence available was limited and heterogeneous. While EBTP has shown to improve HRQoL and exercise capacity, there is no conclusive information about the other proposed outcomes. These positive effects present an opportunity to provide treatment to CCC patients in low- and middle-income countries. Further studies are needed to ascertain the effects of EBTP on hard outcomes in this population.Registration number: CRD42022334060.

An Unusual Cause of Right Heart Dysfunction and High Output Heart Failure in a Young Woman.

A 35-year-old female presented to our emergency department with clinical signs of acute heart failure. Clinical workup identified severe right heart (RH) dilation and dysfunction with a crossing membrane structure in the right atrium. Right heart catheterization confirmed high output heart failure (HOHF), pulmonary hypertension (PH), and left-to-right blood shunting followed by the documentation of multiple liver and pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) diagnosis was made according to clinical criteria and was established as the cause of HOHF because of chronic volume overload from systemic to pulmonary shunts. With this illustrative case, we aim to discuss the broad spectrum of clinical manifestations of HHT and the unusual phenotype of HOHF secondary to HHT. This case also highlights the broad diagnosis of atrial echocardiographic abnormalities and cardiac structural distortion secondary to high output that can be misleading at imaging evaluation.

Global longitudinal strain in heart transplantation recipients using different vendors: reliability and validity in a tertiary hospital in Colombia.

Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) is a useful tool to follow-up heart transplant (HT) recipients. Important inter-vendor variability of GLS measurements has been reported in healthy subjects and different conditions, but there is still limited evidence among HT patients. We assessed the reliability and validity of GLS using two vendors (General Electric and Philips) in a group of consecutive and stable adult HT recipients. Patients underwent two concurrent GLS analyses during their echocardiographic follow-up. We evaluated GLS inter-vendor reliability using Bland-Altman's limits of agreement (LOA) plots, computing its coverage probability (CP) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Validity was assessed though receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves, predictive values, sensitivity and specificity of GLS for each vendor to detect a normal left ventricle function. 78 pairs of GLS studies in 53 stable HT patients were analyzed. We observed a modest inter-vendor reliability with a broad LOA (less than 50% of values falling out our CP of 2% and an ICC of 0.49). ROC analyses (areas under the curve of 0.824 Vs. 0.631, p < 0.05) and diagnosis test indices (Sensitivity of 0.73 Vs. 0.64; and Specificity of 0.79 Vs. 0.50) favored GE over Philips. Inter-vendor variability for GLS analysis exceeded clinically acceptable limits in HT recipients. GLS from GE software seemed to show higher validity as compared to Philips'. The present study provides evidence to consider caution for the interpretation of GLS for clinical management in the follow-up of HT patients, especially when GLS is measured by different vendors.

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease after the Use of Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents: A Review for the Cardiovascular Imager.

Gadolinium-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance has revolutionized cardiac imaging in the last two decades and has emerged as an essential and powerful tool for the characterization and treatment guidance of a wide range of cardiovascular diseases. However, due to the high prevalence of chronic renal dysfunction in patients with cardiovascular conditions, the risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) after gadolinium exposure has been a permanent concern. Even though the newer macrocyclic agents have proven to be much safer in patients with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal failure, clinicians must fully understand the clinical characteristics and risk factors of this devastating pathology and maintain a high degree of suspicion to prevent and recognize it. This review aimed to summarize the existing evidence regarding the physiopathology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and prevention of NSF related to the use of gadolinium-based contrast agents.

Quality of acute myocardial infarction care and outcomes in 33,997 patients aged 80 years or older: findings from Get With The Guidelines-Coronary Artery Disease (GWTG-CAD).

OBJECTIVES: To determine the adherence to national guidelines and in-hospital mortality of older patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) using a national database. BACKGROUND: Prior studies have demonstrated that older patients are less likely to receive evidence-based therapies. METHODS: Using data from the GWTG-CAD, we examined care and in-hospital outcomes among AMI patients treated at 416 US centers from 2000 to 2009. Evidence-based medical therapy, other quality measures, and in-hospital post-AMI mortality were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 156,677 patients were included in the study; 21.7% (n = 33,997) were aged ≥80 years, 33.0% (n = 51,773) 65 to 79 years, and 45.3% (n = 70,907) 18 to 64 years. Older patients had higher prevalence of comorbidities compared to younger patients. Overall, compliance with evidence-based medical treatment upon admission and discharge was high, but age-related differences in care were seen for most measures. After multivariate adjustment, the mortality of the patients aged ≥80 years was substantially higher compared to the youngest cohort (adjusted OR 3.4, 95% CI 3.2-3.8, P < .0001). There were substantial improvements in AMI quality measures over time in each age group. CONCLUSIONS: Among AMI patients aged ≥80 years, the use of evidence-based therapies was high and significant improvements over time have been observed in a national quality improvement program. Nevertheless, there remain important age-related gaps in care and outcomes, suggesting opportunities exist to improve prognosis in this high-risk population.

Chagas Cardiomyopathy: From Romaña Sign to Heart Failure and Sudden Cardiac Death.

Despite nearly a century of research and accounting for the highest disease burden of any parasitic disease in the Western Hemisphere, Chagas disease (CD) is still a challenging diagnosis, primarily due to its poor recognition outside of Latin America. Although initially considered endemic to Central and South America, globalization, urbanization, and increased migration have spread the disease worldwide in the last few years, making it a significant public health threat. The international medical community's apparent lack of interest in this disease that was previously thought to be geographically restricted has delayed research on the complex host-parasite relationship that determines myocardial involvement and its differential behavior from other forms of cardiomyopathy, particularly regarding treatment strategies. Multiple cellular and molecular mechanisms that contribute to degenerative, inflammatory, and fibrotic myocardial responses have been identified and warrant further research to expand the therapeutic arsenal and impact the high burden attributed to CD. Altogether, cardiac dysautonomia, microvascular disturbances, parasite-mediated myocardial damage, and chronic immune-mediated injury are responsible for the disease's clinical manifestations, ranging from asymptomatic disease to severe cardiac and gastrointestinal involvement. It is crucial for healthcare workers to better understand CD transmission and disease dynamics, including its behavior on both its acute and chronic phases, to make adequate and evidence-based decisions regarding the disease. This review aims to summarize the most recent information on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, screening, and treatment of CD, emphasizing on Chagasic cardiomyopathy's (Ch-CMP) clinical presentation and pathobiological mechanisms leading to sudden cardiac death.

Molecular and Clinical Aspects of Chronic Manifestations in Chagas Disease: A State-of-the-Art Review.

Chronic manifestations of Chagas disease present as disabling and life-threatening conditions affecting mainly the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems. Although meaningful research has outlined the different molecular mechanisms underlying Trypanosoma cruzi's infection and the host-parasite interactions that follow, prompt diagnosis and treatment remain a challenge, particularly in developing countries and also in those where the disease is considered non-endemic. This review intends to present an up-to-date review of the parasite's life cycle, genetic diversity, virulence factors, and infective mechanisms, as well as the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment options of the main chronic complications of Chagas disease.

Impact of a pharmacist-based multidimensional intervention aimed at decreasing the risk of hyperkalemia in heart failure patients: A Latin-American experience.

AIMS: Hyperkalemia is a potentially life-threatening condition associated with the use of heart failure (HF) medications, which can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Novel approaches for hyperkalemia prevention are needed, especially in limited-resource settings. Despite multiple studies showing the beneficial impact of pharmaceutical-counseling in several outcomes, there is a knowledge-gap regarding its impact on hyperkalemia prevention. METHODS: A case-control study was performed in patients from the Adult Heart Failure Clinic Registry in our institution. Cases were selected using a definition of serum potassium K+ ≥5.5 mmol/L. To study the association between hyperkalemia and relevant risk factors, we performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) method for variable selection. We also fitted a Classification and Regression Tree (CART) to establish complex interactions and effect modifiers between the selected variables. RESULTS: We matched 483 controls (eligible HF patients without hyperkalemia) to 132 cases (eligible HF patients with hyperkalemia based on age and calendar, yielding a total sample size of 615 patients (270 females) for this study. Cases had statistically significant lower odds of receiving a pharmacist-based multidimensional intervention (PBMI) (OR 0.57; 95% CI, 0.43-0.80) or having HF with reduced ejection fraction (OR 0.56; 95% CI, 0.18-0.72). On the other hand, patients who presented hyperkalemia had statistically significant higher odds of having a history of chronic kidney disease stage 4 (OR 4.97; 95% CI, 2.24-11.01) or 5 (OR 6.73; 95% CI, 1.69-26.84) and being on enalapril at doses =40 mg/day (OR, 9.90; 95% CI 5.81-16.87). CONCLUSIONS: PBMI is a practical approach to prevent hyperkalemia in HF patients in a limited-resource setting. However, clinical trials are needed to assess its effectiveness.

Embryology and developmental defects of the interatrial septum.

OBJECTIVE: The various types of atrial septal defects (ASDs) can be differentiated on the basis of their imaging appearance on MDCT. CONCLUSION: It is fundamental for the cardiac imager to understand the embryologic development of the interatrial septum and the morphogenic differences of ASDs.

What is the Value of CT Angiography for Patients with Acute Chest Pain?

OPINION STATEMENT: Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is an innovative technique to visualize the coronary arteries in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. CCTA has been validated in patients with non acute symptoms. Because of its high negative predictive value in this population, some have advocated using it in patients admitted to the emergency department with chest pain to determine the presence of coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). With current CCTA protocols, adequate evaluation of the coronary arteries is feasible using radiation doses similar to, and even lower than, those for single-photon emission CT, which is commonly used to stratify these patients. In addition to its unique capability of visualizing the coronary tree in a noninvasive fashion, CCTA evaluates extracardiac pathologic conditions, which are part of the differential diagnosis in patients with chest pain, such as pulmonary embolism and acute aortic syndrome. These conditions, although less common than ACS, are also life threatening and their timely diagnosis and treatment may have a positive impact on survival. Other less frequent conditions, such as coronary artery anomalies, also are easily detected with CCTA. Overall, CCTA has an excellent negative predictive value and sensitivity for ACS in patients presenting with chest pain and simultaneously can aid in the diagnoses of other relevant intrathoracic abnormalities.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in Chagas' disease: a parallel with electrophysiologic studies.

Chagas' disease (CD), caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is the leading cause of cardiac disability from infectious diseases in Central and South America. The disease progresses through an extended, asymptomatic form characterized by latency without clinical manifestations into a symptomatic form with cardiac and gastro-intestinal manifestations. In the terminal phase, chronic Chagas' myocarditis results in extensive myocardial fibrosis, chamber enlargement with aneurysms and ventricular tachycardia (VT). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has proven useful in characterizing myocardial fibrosis (MF). Sub-epicardial and mid-wall fibrosis are less common patterns of MF in CHD than transmural scar, which resembles myocardial infarction. Commonly involved areas of MF include the left ventricular apex and basal infero-lateral wall, suggesting a role for watershed ischemia in the pathophysiology of MF. Electrophysiology studies have helped refine the relationship between MF and VT in this setting. This article reviews the patterns of MF in CHD and correlate these patterns with electrogram patterns to predict risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death.

Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evidence of Edema in Chronic Chagasic Cardiomyopathy.

The persistence of inflammatory processes in the myocardium in varying degrees of chronic Chagas heart disease has been poorly investigated. We hypothesized that edema could occur in patients with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy and corresponds to the persistence of inflammatory processes in the myocardium. Eighty-two Chagas disease (CD) seropositive patients (64.6% females; age = 58.9 ± 9.9) without ischemic heart disease or conditions that cause myocardial fibrosis and dilation were considered. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of edema were obtained and represented using a 17-segment model. Patients were divided into three clinical groups according to the left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) as G1 (EF > 60%; n=37), G2 (35% > EF < 60%; n=33), and G3 (EF < 35%; n=12). Comparisons were performed by the Fisher or ANOVA tests. Bonferroni post hoc, Spearman correlation, and multiple correspondence analyses were also performed. Edema was observed in 8 (9.8%) patients; 2 (5.4%) of G1, 4 (12.1%) of G2, and 2 (16.7%) of G3. It was observed at the basal inferolateral segment in 7 (87.5%) cases. LGE was observed in 48 (58.5%) patients; 16 (43.2%) of G1, 21 (63.6%) of G2, and 11 (91.7%) of G3 (p < 0.05). It was observed in the basal inferior/inferolateral/anterolateral segments in 35 (72.9%) patients and in the apical anterior/inferior/lateral and apex segments in 21 (43.7%), with midwall (85.4%; n=41), subendocardial (56.3%; n=27), subepicardial (54.2%; n=26), transmural (31.2%; n=15), and RV (1.2%; n=1) distribution. Subendocardial lesions were observed only in patients with LVEF < 35%. There was no involvement of the mid-inferolateral/anterolateral segments with an LVEF > 35% (p < 0.05). Deteriorations of the LV and RV systolic functions were positively correlated (r s =0.69; p < 0.05) without evidence of LGE in the RV. Edema can be found in patients with chagasic cardiomyopathy in the chronic stage. In later stages of cardiac dilation with low LVEF, the LGE pattern involves subendocardium and mid locations. Deteriorations of RV and LV are positively correlated without evidence of fibrosis in the RV.

Evolution of anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy: benefits and risks of contemporary pharmacologic agents and their implications for myonecrosis and bleeding in percutaneous coronary intervention.

Periprocedural myonecrosis, as evidenced by elevated creatine kinase-myocardial bound (CK-MB) levels, occurs in up to 25% of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and has been linked with an increased risk of adverse short- and long-term clinical outcomes. Such myonecrosis arises from three main pathophysiological mechanisms: procedure-related complications, lesion-specific characteristics (e.g., large thrombus burden, plaque volume), and patient-specific characteristics (e.g., genetic predisposition, arterial inflammation). Periprocedural myonecrosis has not been definitively identified as the cause of postprocedural ischemic events, although agents that reduce or prevent thrombosis--including aspirin, thienopyridines, heparin, low-molecular-weight heparins, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, and direct thrombin inhibitors--have been shown to reduce the incidence of ischemic outcomes in this population, as have agents that reduce inflammation (aspirin, statins). At the same time, antithrombotic agents are known to increase the risk of bleeding and the use of transfusions, which have likewise been associated with worse outcomes in these patients. Thus, optimal management of patients undergoing PCI represents a balance between minimizing the risk of ischemic outcomes and simultaneously minimizing the risk of major bleeding. It may be that patients who have only minor, untreated postprocedural elevations in CK-MB level (with no clinical or angiographic signs of ischemia) might have a better prognosis than patients who have normal CK-MB levels but who suffer major bleeding complications.

Coronary Plaque Morphology and the Anti-Inflammatory Impact of Atorvastatin: A Multicenter 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomographic/Computed Tomographic Study.

BACKGROUND: Nonobstructive coronary plaques manifesting high-risk morphology (HRM) associate with an increased risk of adverse clinical cardiovascular events. We sought to test the hypothesis that statins have a greater anti-inflammatory effect within coronary plaques containing HRM. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this prospective multicenter study, 55 subjects with or at high risk for atherosclerosis underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomographic/computed tomographic imaging at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment with atorvastatin. Coronary arterial inflammation (18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake, expressed as target-to-background ratio) was assessed in the left main coronary artery (LMCA). While blinded to the PET findings, contrast-enhanced computed tomographic angiography was performed to characterize the presence of HRM (defined as noncalcified or partially calcified plaques) in the LMCA. Arterial inflammation (target-to-background ratio) was higher in LMCA segments with HRM than those without HRM (mean±SEM: 1.95±0.43 versus 1.67±0.32 for LMCA with versus without HRM, respectively; P=0.04). Moreover, atorvastatin treatment for 12 weeks reduced target-to-background ratio more in LMCA segments with HRM than those without HRM (12 week-baseline Δtarget-to-background ratio [95% confidence interval]: -0.18 [-0.35 to -0.004] versus 0.09 [-0.06 to 0.26]; P=0.02). Furthermore, this relationship between coronary plaque morphology and change in LMCA inflammatory activity remained significant after adjusting for baseline low-density lipoprotein and statin dose (ß=-0.27; P=0.038). CONCLUSIONS: In this first study to evaluate the impact of statins on coronary inflammation, we observed that the anti-inflammatory impact of statins is substantially greater within coronary plaques that contain HRM features. These findings suggest an additional mechanism by which statins disproportionately benefit individuals with more advanced atherosclerotic disease. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00703261.