Novel Aspects Targeting Platelets in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease-A Translational Perspective.

Platelets are important cellular targets in cardiovascular disease. Based on insights from basic science, translational approaches and clinical studies, a distinguished anti-platelet drug treatment regimen for cardiovascular patients could be established. Furthermore, platelets are increasingly considered as cells mediating effects "beyond thrombosis", including vascular inflammation, tissue remodeling and healing of vascular and tissue lesions. This review has its focus on the functions and interactions of platelets with potential translational and clinical relevance. The role of platelets for the development of atherosclerosis and therapeutic modalities for primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic disease are addressed. Furthermore, novel therapeutic options for inhibiting platelet function and the use of platelets in regenerative medicine are considered.

Additional Value of Machine-Learning Computed Tomographic Angiography-Based Fractional Flow Reserve Compared to Standard Computed Tomographic Angiography.

Background: Machine-learning-based computed-tomography-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFRML) obtains a hemodynamic index in coronary arteries. We examined whether it could reduce the number of invasive coronary angiographies (ICA) showing no obstructive lesions. We further compared CT-FFRML-derived measurements to clinical and CT-derived scores. Methods: We retrospectively selected 88 patients (63 ± 11years, 74% male) with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) who underwent clinically indicated coronary computed tomography angiography (cCTA) and ICA. cCTA image data were processed with an on-site prototype CT-FFRML software. Results: CT-FFRML revealed an index of >0.80 in coronary vessels of 48 (55%) patients. This finding was corroborated in 45 (94%) patients by ICA, yet three (6%) received revascularization. In patients with an index ≤ 0.80, three (8%) of 40 were identified as false positive. A total of 48 (55%) patients could have been retained from ICA. CT-FFRML (AUC = 0.96, p ≤ 0.0001) demonstrated a higher diagnostic accuracy compared to the pretest probability or CT-derived scores and showed an excellent sensitivity (93%), specificity (94%), positive predictive value (PPV; 93%) and negative predictive value (NPV; 94%). Conclusion: CT-FFRML could be beneficial for clinical practice, as it may identify patients with CAD without hemodynamical significant stenosis, and may thus reduce the rate of ICA without necessity for coronary intervention.

Instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR®) to determine hemodynamically significant coronary stenosis: A comprehensive review.

Coronary angiography is considered to be the gold standard in the morphological evaluation of coronary artery stenosis. The morphological assessment of the severity of a coronary lesion is very subjective. Thus, the invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement represents the current standard for estimation of the hemodynamic significance of coronary artery stenosis. The FFR-guided revascularization strategy was initially classified as a Class-IA-recommendation in the 2014 European Society of Cardiology/European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery guidelines on myocardial revascularization. Both the Deferral vs Performance of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention of Functionally Non-Significant Coronary Stenosis and Flow Reserve vs Angiography for Multivessel Evaluation studies showed no treatment advantage for hemodynamically insignificant stenoses. With the help of FFR (and targeted interventions), clinical results could be improved; however, the use in clinical practice is still limited due to the need of adenosine administration and a significant prolongation of the length of the procedure. Instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR®) is a new innovative approach for the determination of the hemodynamic significance of coronary stenosis, which can be obtained at rest without the use of vasodilators. Regarding the periprocedural complications as well as prognosis, iFR® showed non-inferiority to FFR in the SWEDEHEART and DEFINE-FLAIR trials. Furthermore, iFR®, enhanced by iFR®-pullback, provides the possibility to display the iFR®-change over the course of the vessel to create a hemodynamic map.