INCREASED EXPOSURE TO X-RAYS DURING CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY AND PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH FRACTIONAL FLOW RESERVE MEASUREMENT AND ENDOCORONARY IMAGING TECHNIQUES.

Growing use of fractional flow reserve (FFR) and intracoronary imaging techniques by optical coherence tomography or intravascular ultrasound has raised concerns about additional exposure during coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). Using data from the prospective CRAC-France PCI Prospective Multicentre registry, we sought to evaluate the effect of these new techniques on the radiation dose to patients undergoing coronary procedures. Data on Kerma Area Product (PKA), total air kerma (KAr) and fluoroscopy time from 42 182 coronary procedures were retrospectively compared, using multivariable linear regression, according to whether they included FFR and intracoronary imaging. In coronary angiography, FFR was associated with longer fluoroscopy time and higher PKA (21.0 vs. 18.9 Gy.cm2) and KAr (372 vs. 299 mGy) (all p < 0.001). Intracoronary imaging was associated with longer fluoroscopy time, higher contrast volume (both p < 0.001), lower PKA (18.3 vs. 19.0 Gy.cm2, p = 0.02) and similar KAr. In PCI, FFR was associated with a moderate increase in KAr (682 vs. 626 mGy, p < 0.01) but not PKA (35.9 vs. 33.7 Gy.cm2, p = 0.34). For intracoronary imaging, there were no differences between groups, except for contrast volume. Increased patient exposure associated with FFR and intracoronary imaging is moderate in diagnostic coronary angiography and minimal or none in PCI, provided optimization techniques are used. It should not be a limitation on the use of these techniques given the important additional information they provide.

The IC-D score for predicting prophylactic cardioverter-defibrillator implantation following acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: A reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35% ≥6 weeks following an acute myocardial infarction (MI) may indicate prophylactic implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). We sought to find predictors of absence of significant left ventricular (LV) remodeling post-MI. METHODS: All consecutive patients hospitalized for acute MI with an LVEF ≤35% at discharge in our institution from 2010 were retrospectively included. Patients were assigned to two groups according to the persistence of an LVEF ≤35% (ICD+) or a recovery >35% (ICD-). Logistic regression was performed to build a predictive score, which was then externally validated. RESULTS: Among a total of 1533 consecutive MI patients, 150 met inclusion criteria, 53 (35%) in the ICD+ group and 97 in the ICD group. After multivariable analyses, an LVEF ≤25% at discharge (adjusted OR 6.23 [2.47 to 17.0], p < .0001) and a CPK peak at the MI acute phase >4600 UI/L (adjusted OR 9.99 [4.27 to 25.3], p < .0001) both independently predicted non-recovery at 6 weeks. The IC-D (Increased Cpk-LV Dysfunction) score predicted persistent LVEF ≤35% with areas under curve of 0.83 and 0.73, in the study population and in a multicenter validation cohort of 150 patients, respectively (p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: The association of a severely reduced LVEF and a major release of myocardial necrosis biomarkers at the acute phase of MI predict unfavorable remodeling, and prophylactic ICD implantation.