Coronary CT angiography-derived fractional flow reserve in-stable angina: association with recurrent chest pain.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT) and recurrent chest pain (CP) at 1-year follow-up in patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP). METHODS AND RESULTS: Study of patients (n = 267) with SAP who underwent CCTA and FFRCT testing; 236 (88%) underwent invasive coronary angiography; and 87 (33%) were revascularized. Symptomatic status at 1-year follow-up was gathered by a structured interview. Three different FFRCT algorithms were applied using the following criteria for abnormality: (i) 2 cm-FFRCT ≤0.80; (ii) d-FFRCT ≤0.80; and (iii) a combination in which both a d-FFRCT ≤0.80 and a ΔFFRCT ≥0.06 must be present in the same vessel (c-FFRCT). Patients were classified into two groups based on the FFRCT test result and revascularization: completely revascularized/normal (CRN), patients in whom all coronary arteries with an abnormal FFRCT test result were revascularized or patients with completely normal FFRCT test results, and incompletely revascularized (IR), patients in whom ≥1 coronary artery with an abnormal FFRCT test result was not revascularized. Recurrent CP was present in 62 (23%) patients. Classification of patients (CRN or IR) was significantly associated with recurrent CP for all applied FFRCT interpretation algorithms. When applying the c-FFRCT algorithm, the association with recurrent CP was found, irrespective of the extent of coronary calcification and the degree of coronary stenosis. A negative association between per-patient minimal d-FFRCT and recurrent CP was demonstrated, P < 0.005. CONCLUSION: An abnormal FFRCT test result is associated with an increased risk of recurrent CP in patients with new-onset SAP.

Prediction of Coronary Revascularization in Stable Angina: Comparison of FFRCT With CMR Stress Perfusion Imaging.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to compare head-to-head fractional flow reserve (FFR) derived from coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) (FFRCT) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) stress perfusion imaging for prediction of standard-of-care-guided coronary revascularization in patients with stable chest pain and obstructive coronary artery disease by coronary CTA. BACKGROUND: FFRCT is a novel modality for noninvasive functional testing. The clinical utility of FFRCT compared to CMR stress perfusion imaging in symptomatic patients with coronary artery disease is unknown. METHODS: Prospective study of patients (n = 110) with stable angina pectoris and 1 or more coronary stenosis ≥50% by coronary CTA. All patients underwent invasive coronary angiography. Revascularization was FFR-guided in stenoses ranging from 30% to 90%. FFRCT ≤0.80 in 1 or more coronary artery or a reversible perfusion defect (≥2 segments) by CMR categorized patients with ischemia. FFRCT and CMR were analyzed by core laboratories blinded for patient management. RESULTS: A total of 38 patients (35%) underwent revascularization. Per-patient diagnostic performance for identifying standard-of-care-guided revascularization, (95% confidence interval) yielded a sensitivity of 97% (86% to 100%) for FFRCT versus 47% (31% to 64%) for CMR, p < 0.001; corresponding specificity was 42% (30% to 54%) versus 88% (78% to 94%), p < 0.001; negative predictive value of 97% (91% to 100%) versus 76% (67% to 85%), p < 0.05; positive predictive value of 47% (36% to 58%) versus 67% (49% to 84%), p < 0.05; and accuracy of 61% (51% to 70%) versus 74% (64% to 82%), p > 0.05, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stable chest pain referred to invasive coronary angiography based on coronary CTA, FFRCT and CMR yielded similar overall diagnostic accuracy. Sensitivity for prediction of revascularization was highest for FFRCT, whereas specificity was highest for CMR.

Prospective Comparison of FFR Derived From Coronary CT Angiography With SPECT Perfusion Imaging in Stable Coronary Artery Disease: The ReASSESS Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to compare the per-patient diagnostic performance of coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA)-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT) with that of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), using a fractional flow reserve (FFR) value of ≤0.80 as the reference for diagnosing at least 1 hemodynamically significant stenosis in a head-to-head comparison of patients with intermediate coronary stenosis as determined by coronary CTA. BACKGROUND: No previous study has prospectively compared the diagnostic performance of FFRCT and myocardial perfusion imaging by SPECT in symptomatic patients with intermediate range coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: This study was conducted at a single-center as a prospective study in patients with stable angina pectoris (N = 143). FFRCT and SPECT analyses were performed by core laboratories and were blinded for the personnel responsible for downstream patient management. FFRCT ≤0.80 distally in at least 1 coronary artery with a diameter ≥2 mm classified patients as having ischemia. Ischemia by SPECT was encountered if a reversible perfusion defect (summed difference score ≥2) or transitory ischemic dilation of the left ventricle (ratio >1.19) were found. RESULTS: The per-patient diagnostic performance for identifying ischemia (95% confidence interval [CI]), FFRCT versus SPECT, were sensitivity of 91% (95% CI: 81% to 97%) versus 41% (95% CI: 29% to 55%; p < 0.001); specificity of 55% (95% CI: 44% to 66%) versus 86% (95% CI: 77% to 93%; p < 0.001); negative predictive value of 90% (95% CI: 82% to 98%) versus 68% (95% CI: 59% to 77%; p = 0.001); positive predictive value of 58% (95% CI: 48% to 68%) versus 67% (95% CI: 51% to 82%; p = NS); and accuracy of 70% (95% CI: 62% to 77%) versus 68% (95% CI: 60% to 75%; p = NS) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stable chest pain and CAD as determined by coronary CTA, the overall diagnostic accuracy levels of FFRCT and SPECT were identical in assessing hemodynamically significant stenosis. However, FFRCT demonstrated a significantly higher diagnostic sensitivity than SPECT.

Left ventricular function in treatment-naive early rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: The role of inflammation and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unclear. Previous studies have suggested that both disease activity and disease duration are associated with atherosclerosis and a higher mortality rate caused primarily by coronary artery disease. OBJECTIVE: We investigated how disease activity, anti-CCP status and coronary calcium score in treatment-naive early RA impacts left ventricular (LV) systolic function. METHODS: Fifty-tree patients (30 women) with mean age 58.3±1.3 years and steroid- and disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)-naive early RA were included. Disease activity was scored by the use of the Danish national DANBIO registry (number of swollen joints (NSJ (28)), number of tender joints (NTJ (28)), C-reactive protein (CRP) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ)). Pain, fatigue, patient and physician global assessment and a composite disease activity score (DAS28-CRP) were assessed by visual analog scales (VAS) 0-100. IgM rheumafactor (IgM-RF) and anti-CCP titers were evaluated by standardized techniques. Coronary calcium score was estimated by computed tomography by calculating the Agaston score. One experienced senior rheumatologist and one experienced cardiologist performed all the clinical assessments as well as all the transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and coronary CT analysis. RESULTS: Disease activity scores before treatment at baseline were: NSJ (28) 7.1±2.7, NTJ (28) 8.5±3.5, CRP 11.7±12.9 mmol/l, HAQ 0.71±0.6, pain VAS 51.1±23.7, fatigue VAS 49.3±24.9, physician global assessment 54.2±15.0 and DAS28-CRP 4.8±0.7. Twenty-three (43%) patients were IgM-RF positive and 33 (62%) were anti-CCP positive. We found LV systolic function by conventional ejection fraction (EF) to be 54.1±9.2% and to be non-significant correlated to disease activity (CRP: r=0.07, p=0.64; baseline NSJ: r=-0.13, p=0.33; NTJ: r=-0.08, p=0.58; HAQ: r=0.23, p=0.1; pain VAS: r=-0.05, p=0.74; fatigue VAS: r=0.03, p=0,83; physician global assessment: r=-0.09, p=0.54 and DAS28: r=-0.03, p=0.84). However, using a more sensitive measurement of the LV function by global longitudinal systolic strain (GLS), we found a significant correlation: HAQ (r=0.29; p=0.037), patient global assessment by VAS (r=0.35; p=0.011), patient fatigue assessment by VAS (r=0.3; p=0.03) and DAS28-CRP (r=0.28; p=0.043); all corrected for relevant confounders (age, gender, pulse and blood pressure). Furthermore, anti-CCP was highly significantly correlated with GLS (r=-0.44; p=0.001) in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, it still remained significantly correlated (p=0.018), after correction for age, gender, pulse, and blood pressure. Using strain analysis of LV function, we found a significant difference in GLS in patients with high values of anti-CCP (titers ≥340) compared to patients with anti-CCP (titers <340); (-19.9±2.1% vs. -16.4±2.8%; p=0.0001). For patients with high IgM-RF, results were non-significant. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a significant correlation between increased disease activity and cardiac function in treatment-naive early RA.