Computed tomography perfusion and angiography in patients with chronic total occlusion undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and anatomical imaging with coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) can play an important role in the preprocedural planning of a chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We aimed to establish the feasibility of a novel dynamic computed tomography perfusion (CTP) analysis for the assessment of myocardial perfusion before and after a successful recanalization of CTO in patients undergoing CCTA as part of a standard preprocedural workup. METHODS: In a prospective observational study symptomatic patients underwent dynamic CTP on a dual-source CT scanner both before and 3 months after successful CTO PCI. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients completed the study (63 ± 8 years old, 78% male). Following successful CTO PCI, there was a significant reduction in the ischemic burden (5 [5-7] versus 1 [0-2] segments, p < 0.001), and improvement in myocardial blood flow (85.3 [71.7-94.1] versus 134.6 [123.8-156.9] mL/min, p < 0.001) resulting in an increase in the relative flow reserve (0.49 [0.41-0.57] versus 0.88 [0.74-0.95], p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CTP emerges as a robust and safe method for MPI in CTO patients. The single imaging session assessment of both coronary anatomy and perfusion with CT lends itself to precise disease phenotyping in the challenging population of CTO patients.

Genetic history of East-Central Europe in the first millennium CE.

BACKGROUND: The appearance of Slavs in East-Central Europe has been the subject of an over 200-year debate driven by two conflicting hypotheses. The first assumes that Slavs came to the territory of contemporary Poland no earlier than the sixth century CE; the second postulates that they already inhabited this region in the Iron Age (IA). Testing either hypothesis is not trivial given that cremation of the dead was the prevailing custom in Central Europe from the late Bronze Age until the Middle Ages (MA). RESULTS: To address this problem, we determined the genetic makeup of representatives of the IA Wielbark- and MA Slav-associated cultures from the territory of present-day Poland. The study involved 474 individuals buried in 27 cemeteries. For 197 of them, genome-wide data were obtained. We found close genetic affinities between the IA Wielbark culture-associated individuals and contemporary to them and older northern European populations. Further, we observed that the IA individuals had genetic components which were indispensable to model the MA population. CONCLUSIONS: The collected data suggest that the Wielbark culture-associated IA population was formed by immigrants from the north who entered the region of contemporary Poland most likely at the beginning of the first millennium CE and mixed with autochthons. The presented results are in line with the hypothesis that assumes the genetic continuation between IA and MA periods in East-Central Europe.

Computed Tomography Angiography-Derived Scores for Prediction of Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Using the Hybrid Algorithm.

Whereas coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) exceeds invasive angiography for predicting the procedural outcome of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), CCTA-derived scores have never been validated in the hybrid CTO PCI population. In this single-center, retrospective, observational study, we included 108 consecutive patients with 110 CTO lesions and preprocedural CCTA who underwent hybrid CTO PCI to assess the diagnostic accuracy of CCTA-derived scoring systems. Successful guidewire crossing within 30 min was set as the primary endpoint. The secondary endpoints were final procedural success and the need for using any non-antegrade wiring (AW) strategy within the hybrid algorithm. Time-efficient guidewire crossing and final procedural success were achieved in 53.6% and 89.1% of lesions, respectively, while in 36.4% of the procedures, any non-AW strategy was applied. The median J-CTO score was 1 (interquartile range (IQR): 0, 2), while the CT-RECTOR, KCCT, J-CTOCCTA, and RECHARGECCTA scores were 2 (IQR: 1, 3), 3 (IQR: 2, 5), 1 (IQR: 0, 3), and 2 (IQR: 1, 3), respectively. All scores were significantly higher in the lesions with failed versus successful time-efficient guidewire crossing. Although all of the CCTA-derived scores had numerically higher predictive values than the angiographic J-CTO score, no significant differences were noted between the scores in any of the analyzed study endpoints. High sensitivity of the CT-RECTOR and RECHARGECCTA scores (both 89.8%) for predicting successful guidewire crossing within 30 min, and high sensitivity (90.8%) of the KCCT score for predicting final procedural success, were noted. CCTA-derived scoring systems are accurate, noninvasive tools for the prediction of the procedural outcome of hybrid CTO PCI, and may aid in identifying the need for use of the hybrid algorithm.

Feasibility of computed tomography perfusion in patients with chronic total occlusion undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

We aimed to establish the feasibility and safety of dynamic computed tomography perfusion (CTP) in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Ten consecutive CTO patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (≥50%) underwent regadenoson dynamic CTP prior to and at least 3 months after successful CTO recanalization. Quantitative absolute and indexed values of stress myocardial blood flow (MBF) were measured for each myocardial segment, and perfusion defect size was defined by the number of segments with indexed MBF ≤0.78. The control group comprised 10 subjects without ischemia on CTP. Out of 20 CTP studies with 320 segments, 311 segments (97.2%) were interpretable. The dose-length product for CTP was 589.5 â€‹± â€‹144.3 mGy cm, and no severe adverse reactions to either regadenoson or contrast were observed. Successful PCI resulted in a significant increase in stress MBF in CTO (101.8 [82.9-127.1] vs. 158.4 [132.6-172] ml/100ml/min, p â€‹= â€‹0.004). Overall, there were significant reductions in both CTO and total defect size post-PCI (5 [5-6] vs. 1 [0.3-2] and 6 [5-8.5] vs. 1.5 [1-3.8] segments, both p â€‹= â€‹0.002). In segment analysis, the indexed MBF was lowest in the pre-PCI CTO group (0.90 [0.53-1.0]), followed by post-PCI CTO group (0.96 [0.88-1.0]) and the control group (0.98 [0.94-1.0]). Dynamic CTP is feasible and safe, and shows large perfusion defects in patients with CTO. While ischemic burden can be significantly improved after successful CTO PCI, it is still larger as compared with normal myocardium. NCT04465526: The Influence of Coronary Chronic Total Occlusion on Myocardial Perfusion on Computed Tomography (COPACABANA).

Visually Estimated RESOLVE Score Based on Coronary Computed Tomography to Predict Side Branch Occlusion in Percutaneous Bifurcation Intervention.

PURPOSE: The quantitative RESOLVE (Risk prEdiction of Side branch OccLusion in coronary bifurcation interVEntion) score derived from coronary computed tomography angiography (coronary CTA) was developed as a noninvasive and accurate prediction tool for side branch (SB) occlusion in coronary bifurcation intervention. We aimed to determine the ability of a visually estimated CTA-derived RESOLVE score (V-RESOLVE score) to predict SB occlusion in coronary bifurcation intervention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study included 363 patients with 400 bifurcation lesions. CTA-derived V-RESOLVE score was derived and compared with the quantitative CTA-derived RESOLVE score. The scoring systems were divided into quartiles, and classified as the high-risk and non-high-risk groups. SB occlusion was defined as any decrease in thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade after main vessel stenting. RESULTS: In total, 28 SB occlusions (7%) occurred. The concordance between visual and quantitative CTA analysis showed poor to excellent agreement (weighted κ range: 0.099 to 0.867). The area under the receiver operating curve for the prediction of SB occlusion was significantly higher for the CTA-derived V-RESOLVE score than for quantitative CTA-derived RESOLVE score (0.792 vs. 0.709, P=0.049). The total net reclassification index was 42.7% (P=0.006), and CTA-derived V-RESOLVE score showed similar capability to discriminate between high-risk group (18.6% vs. 13.8%, P=0.384) and non-high-risk group (3.8% vs. 4.9%, P=0.510) as compared with quantitative CTA-derived RESOLVE score. CONCLUSIONS: Visually estimated CTA-derived V-RESOLVE score is an accurate and easy-to-use prediction tool for the stratification of SB occlusion in coronary bifurcation intervention.

Noncalcified plaque burden quantified from coronary computed tomography angiography improves prediction of side branch occlusion after main vessel stenting in bifurcation lesions: results from the CT-PRECISION registry.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the incremental value of quantitative plaque features measured from computed tomography angiography (CTA) for predicting side branch (SB) occlusion in coronary bifurcation intervention. METHODS: We included 340 patients with 377 bifurcation lesions in the post hoc analysis of the CT-PRECISION registry. Each bifurcation was divided into three segments: the proximal main vessel (MV), the distal MV, and the SB. Segments with evidence of coronary plaque were analyzed using semi-automated software allowing for quantitative analysis of coronary plaque morphology and stenosis. Coronary plaque measurements included calcified and noncalcified plaque volumes, and corresponding burdens (respective plaque volumes × 100%/vessel volume), remodeling index, and stenosis. RESULTS: SB occlusion occurred in 28 of 377 bifurcation lesions (7.5%). The presence of visually identified plaque in the SB segment, but not in the proximal and distal MV segments, was the only qualitative parameter that predicted SB occlusion with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.792. Among quantitative plaque parameters calculated for the SB segment, the addition of noncalcified plaque burden (AUC 0.840, p = 0.003) and low-density plaque burden (AUC 0.836, p = 0.012) yielded significant improvements in predicting SB occlusion. Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, optimal cut-offs for noncalcified plaque burden and low-density plaque burden were > 33.6% (86% sensitivity and 78% specificity) and > 0.9% (89% sensitivity and 73% specificity), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CTA-derived noncalcified plaque burden, when added to the visually identified SB plaque, significantly improves the prediction of SB occlusion in coronary bifurcation intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03709836 registered on October 17, 2018.

Comparison of Computed Tomography Angiography Versus Invasive Angiography to Assess Medina Classification in Coronary Bifurcations.

The Medina classification is used to determine the presence of significant stenosis (≥50%) within each of the 3 arterial segments of coronary bifurcation in invasive coronary angiography (ICA). The utility of coronary computed tomography angiography (coronary CTA) for assessment of Medina classification is unknown. We aimed to compare the agreement and reproducibility of Medina classification between ICA and coronary CTA, and evaluate its ability to predict side branch (SB) occlusion following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In total 363 patients with 400 bifurcations were included, and 28 (7%) SB occlusions among 26 patients were noted. Total agreement between CTA and ICA for assessment of Medina class was poor (kappa = 0.189), and discordance between both modalities was noted in 253 (63.3%) lesions. Larger diameter ratio between main vessel and SB in CTA, and larger bifurcation angle in ICA were independently associated with discordant Medina assessment. Whereas the interobserver agreement on Medina classification in CTA was moderate (kappa = 0.557), only fair agreement (kappa = 0.346) was observed for ICA. Finally, Medina class with any proximal involvement of main vessel and SB (1.X.1) on CTA or ICA was the most predictive of SB occlusion following PCI with no significant differences between both modalities (area under the curve 0.686 vs 0.663, p = 0.693, respectively). In conclusion, Medina classification was significantly affected by the imaging modality, and coronary CTA improved reproducibility of Medina classification compared with ICA. Both CTA and ICA-derived Medina class with any involvement of the proximal main vessel and SB was predictive of SB occlusion following PCI.

Accuracy of RESOLVE score derived from coronary computed tomography versus visual angiography to predict side branch occlusion in percutaneous bifurcation intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Visually estimated angiographic V-RESOLVE score was developed as a simple and accurate prediction tool for side branch (SB) occlusion in patients undergoing coronary bifurcation intervention. Data on the use of coronary computed tomography angiography (coronary CTA) for guiding percutaneous coronary intervention in bifurcation lesions is scarce. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to validate the ability of quantitative CTA-derived RESOLVE score for predicting SB occlusion in coronary bifurcation intervention and to compare its predictive value with that of the angiography-based V-RESOLVE score. METHODS: We included 363 patients with 400 bifurcation lesions. Angiographic V-RESOLVE score and CTA-derived RESOLVE score were calculated utilizing the weights from the QCA-based RESOLVE score. The scoring systems were divided into quartiles, and classified as the non-high-risk group and the high-risk group. Accuracy was assessed using areas under the receiver-operator characteristic curve (AUC). SB occlusion was defined as any decrease in Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow grade (including the absence of flow) in the SB after main vessel stenting. RESULTS: In total, 28 SB occlusions (7%) occurred. CTA-derived RESOLVE and V-RESOLVE scores achieved comparable predictive accuracy (0.709 vs. 0.752, respectively, p = 0.531) for predicting SB occlusion, and the analysis of AUC for each constituent element of the scores did not show any significant difference between CTA and visual angiography. The total net reclassification index was -18.6% (p = 0.194), and there were no significant differences in the rates of SB occlusion in the non-high-risk group (4.9% vs. 3.8%, p = 0.510) and the high-risk group (13.8% vs. 18.6%, p = 0.384) between CTA-derived RESOLVE and V-RESOLVE scores. CONCLUSIONS: The quantitative CTA-derived RESOLVE score is an accurate and reliable alternative to the visually estimated angiographic V-RESOLVE score for prediction of SB occlusion in coronary bifurcation intervention. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT03709836.

Chronic Total Occlusion Of Coronary Artery Without Previous History Of Myocardial Infarction: A Role Of Spect.

not required.

Mechanisms of Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Nonobstructive Coronary Artery Disease: Results From the Optical Coherence Tomography Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess the presence and morphological features of coronary plaques on optical coherence tomography (OCT) as the causes of myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). BACKGROUND: Although coronary atherosclerosis has been postulated as a potential mechanism of MINOCA, the interaction between disrupted coronary plaques and myocardial injury remains unknown. METHODS: In a prospective study, consecutive patients with MI but without significant coronary stenosis (≥50%) at angiography underwent OCT and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with late gadolinium-enhancement (LGE). The infarct-related artery (IRA) was identified by localization of ischemic-type LGE. RESULTS: Thirty-eight MINOCA patients (mean age 62 ± 13 years, 55% female, 39% with ST-segment elevation) were enrolled. Maximal diameter stenosis was 35% by angiography, and 5 patients (13%) had normal angiogram results. Plaque disruption and coronary thrombus were observed in 9 patients (24%) and 7 patients (18%), respectively. Sixteen of 31 patients (52%) undergoing CMR showed LGE. Ischemic-type LGE was present in 7 patients (23%) and was more common in patients with than without plaque disruption (50% vs. 13%, respectively; p = 0.053) and coronary thrombus (67% vs. 12%, respectively; p = 0.014). In the per-lesion analysis, the IRA showed significantly more plaque disruption (40% vs. 6%; p = 0.02), thrombus (50% vs. 4%; p = 0.014), and thin-cap fibroatheroma (70% vs. 30%; p = 0.03) than the non-IRA. CONCLUSIONS: Plaque disruption and thrombus are not uncommon in MI without obstructive coronary stenoses at angiography and may be associated with the presence and location of ischemic-type myocardial injury on CMR. OCT may be valuable in identifying atherosclerotic etiology in individuals with MINOCA. (Optical Coherence Tomography in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction and Nonobstructive Coronary Artery Disease [SOFT-MI]; NCT02783963).

Four-Layer Stent Sandwich for Recurrent In-Stent Occlusion of the Right Coronary Artery: "The Four Musketeers" Fighting for Coronary Flow.

A 70-year-old man with a history of two successfully treated in-stent chronic total occlusions of the ostial right coronary artery using drug-eluting stents presented with typical angina.

A mosaic genetic structure of the human population living in the South Baltic region during the Iron Age.

Despite the increase in our knowledge about the factors that shaped the genetic structure of the human population in Europe, the demographic processes that occurred during and after the Early Bronze Age (EBA) in Central-East Europe remain unclear. To fill the gap, we isolated and sequenced DNAs of 60 individuals from Kowalewko, a bi-ritual cemetery of the Iron Age (IA) Wielbark culture, located between the Oder and Vistula rivers (Kow-OVIA population). The collected data revealed high genetic diversity of Kow-OVIA, suggesting that it was not a small isolated population. Analyses of mtDNA haplogroup frequencies and genetic distances performed for Kow-OVIA and other ancient European populations showed that Kow-OVIA was most closely linked to the Jutland Iron Age (JIA) population. However, the relationship of both populations to the preceding Late Neolithic (LN) and EBA populations were different. We found that this phenomenon is most likely the consequence of the distinct genetic history observed for Kow-OVIA women and men. Females were related to the Early-Middle Neolithic farmers, whereas males were related to JIA and LN Bell Beakers. In general, our findings disclose the mechanisms that could underlie the formation of the local genetic substructures in the South Baltic region during the IA.

Anomalous origin of culprit coronary arteries in acute coronary syndromes.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to describe a series of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients in whom anomalous origin of culprit coronary artery (AOCCA) was diagnosed. Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in AOCCA are performed very infrequently. METHODS: Electronic databases from three high-volume tertiary cardiac centers were retrospectively searched for the presence of AOCCA in ACS. RESULTS: Different types of AOCCA in ACS were identified in 20 patients. The most frequent AOCCA was left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) originating from right coronary artery (RCA) or directly from the right coronary sinus (RCS), n = 13, followed by high/atypical RCA, n = 3, left coronary artery (LCA) originating from RCS (n = 3) with either RCA-AOCCA (n = 1) or left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD)-AOCCA (n = 1) or RCA originating from left sinus of Valsalva, (n = 1), LAD originating from RCA (n = 1). In 1 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)-patient RCA-AOCCA cannulation was unsuccessful, in 1 non-STEMI-patient AOCCA was missed, 1 ACS- -patient was treated surgically and 1 ACS-patient was treated conservatively (both patients with non- STEMI). In the remaining patients PCI was successfully performed. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequently encountered AOCCA is LCx branching-off from RCA. AOCCA may either be difficult to cannulate and PCI aborted even in STEMI, or missed, especially when the intermediate branch from LCA is mimicking proper LCx.