Impact of nodular calcification in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

BACKGROUND: Calcified plaque is thought to adversely impact outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This study sought to evaluate the impact of nodular calcification in patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: Using optical coherence tomography (OCT), 500 culprit plaques with calcification were analyzed from 495 acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients on whom PCI was performed. Based on morphology, we classified calcification into two subtypes: nodular calcification and non-nodular calcification. Nodular calcification was defined as protruding mass with an irregular surface, high backscattering, and signal attenuation while non-nodular calcification was defined as an area with low backscattering heterogeneous region with a well-delineated border without protrusion into the lumen on OCT. RESULTS: Calcified culprit plaques were divided into nodular calcification group (n = 238) and non-nodular calcification group (n = 262). Patients with nodular calcification were older (p < 0.001) and had lower left ventricular ejection fraction (p = 0.006) compared to patients with non-nodular calcification. Minimum stent area (5.0 (3.9, 6.3) mm2 vs. 5.4 (4.2, 6.7) mm2, p = 0.011) and stent expansion (70 (62.7, 81.8) % vs. 75 (65.2, 86.6) %, p = 0.004) were significantly smaller in the nodular calcification group than in the non-nodular calcification group. Stent under-expansion was most frequent (p = 0.003) in the nodular calcification group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrate that the presence of nodular calcification is associated with a smaller minimum stent area and a higher incidence of stent under-expansion. Lesions with nodular calcification may be at risk of stent under-expansion.

Is the effect of atorvastatin 60 mg on stabilization of lipid-rich plaque equivalent to that of rosuvastatin 10 mg? A serial optical coherence tomography combined with intravascular ultrasound imaging.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the effect of atorvastatin 60 (AT60) mg to that of rosuvastatin 10 (RT10) mg on the morphological changes in lipid-rich plaques (LRPs) and plaque volume, using serial optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound imaging (IVUS). BACKGROUND: Intensive lipid lowering therapy by statin provides more clinical benefit compared to that of moderate lipid lowering therapy. METHODS: Fifty patients who underwent OCT and IVUS at baseline, 6, and 12 months were grouped by statin therapy into the AT60 mg (n = 27) and RT10 mg (n = 23) groups. The relationships between absolute and percentage changes in biomarkers and fibrous cap thickness (FCT) during follow-up were investigated using a simple regression analysis. RESULTS: At 6 months, the mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level reduced from 113.5 to 65.5 mg/dl (AT60 mg group) and 100.2 to 72.2 mg/dl (RT10 mg groups). A continuous increase in FCT from baseline to 12 months was observed in both groups (p < .001, p < .001, respectively). Mean lipid arc significantly decreased in both AT60 mg (189.0 ± 55.9°, 170.9 ± 60.2°, 155.6 ± 50.6°, p < .001) and RT10 mg (160.0 ± 45.6°, 151.2 ± 48.5°, 141.1 ± 52.9°, p = .010) groups. Plaque burden did not change significantly in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Lipid-lowering therapy effect with AT60 mg was equivalent to that of RT10 mg in terms of change in plaque morphology. AT60 mg showed more intensive low-density lipid cholesterol level reduction compared to RT10 mg while RT10 mg was effective in increasing the high-density lipid cholesterol level. Both statin therapies could effectively stabilize LRPs.

Contraceptive use among women with a history of induced abortion: findings from a national sample of sexually active, non-pregnant women in Ghana.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between a history of induced abortion and current use of contraception among reproductive-aged women in Ghana. METHODS: The analysed data were a weighted sample of 6544 sexually active, non-pregnant women aged 15-49 years, obtained from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Survey logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds of currently using any contraception and of using a modern method of contraception, given a history of induced abortion in the period 2009-2014. RESULTS: A history of induced abortion between 2009 and 2014 was reported by 17.4% of women (95% CI 16.0%, 18.9%); 28.7% (95% CI 26.9%, 30.6%) were currently using a method of contraception and 23.0% (95% CI 21.4%, 24.7%) were currently using a modern method of contraception. The majority (80.1%) of current contraceptive users were using a modern method. The adjusted analysis revealed no statistically significant association between a history of induced abortion and current contraceptive behaviour. Other factors were associated with modern contraceptive use. CONCLUSION: Overall, the use of contraception among sexually active women in Ghana was found to be low. Our findings showed that women's experience of induced abortion was unlikely to influence their current use of modern contraception.

Pancoronary plaque characteristics and clinical outcomes in acute coronary syndrome patients with cancer history.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The prevalence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with cancer history is increasing and it is associated with higher mortality. However, there is limited evidence on the characteristics of coronary plaque in ACS patients with cancer history. This study explored the pancoronary plaque characteristics in ACS patients with cancer history by optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: A total of 306 ACS patients treated by 3-vessel OCT at the time of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were included, retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of cancer history: one group with cancer history (n = 98) and a matched group without cancer history (n = 208). RESULTS: A total of 314 culprit lesions and 514 nonculprit lesions were identified by OCT in this study. In culprit lesions, ACS patients with cancer history had higher incidence of thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) (p = 0.016), cholesterol crystals (p = 0.028), calcification (p = 0.001) and thrombus (p = 0.001), and had thinner fibrous cap thickness (FCT) (p = 0.011), greater maximum lipid arc (p = 0.042) and lipid index (p < 0.001), compared to matched ACS patients without cancer history. In nonculprit lesions, ACS patients with cancer history had higher prevalence of high-risk plaque (14.7% vs. 7.7%, p = 0.017), nonculprit rupture (14.7% vs. 6.3%, p = 0.003), and TCFA (52.2% vs. 28.3%, p < 0.001), and had higher incidence of calcification (p = 0.003), thrombus (p = 0.029), cholesterol crystals (p = 0.002) and microchannels (p = 0.029). These non-culprit lesions had longer lesion length (p = 0.001), thinner FCT (p < 0.001), greater maximum lipid arc (p = 0.016) and lipid index (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: ACS patients with cancer history showed more high-risk plaque features in culprit and nonculprit lesions, compared with ACS patients without cancer history. Therefore, ACS patients with cancer history may have greater pancoronary vulnerability. This may predict a poorer prognosis for ACS patients with cancer history.

Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of MINOCA Caused by Atherosclerotic and Nonatherosclerotic Mechanisms Assessed by OCT.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary artery (MINOCA) is a heterogeneous syndrome caused by different pathophysiologic mechanisms. There is limited evidence regarding prognosis of patients with MINOCA caused by different mechanisms. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to assess the underlying mechanisms of MINOCA by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to correlate with clinical outcomes. METHODS: Patients with MINOCA were divided into 2 groups based on OCT findings: atherosclerotic MINOCA (Ath-MINOCA) and nonatherosclerotic MINOCA (non-Ath-MINOCA). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were defined as cardiac death, nonfatal MI, target lesion revascularization, stroke, and rehospitalization for unstable or progressive angina. RESULTS: Among 7,423 patients with a clinical diagnosis of MI who underwent angiography, 190 of 294 MINOCA were studied using OCT. The causes of Ath-MINOCA (n = 99, 52.1%) were plaque erosion (n = 64, 33.7%), plaque rupture (n = 33, 17.4%), and calcified nodule (n = 2, 1.1%) whereas the causes of non-Ath-MINOCA (n = 91, 47.9%) were spontaneous coronary artery dissection (n = 8, 4.2%), coronary spasm (n = 9, 4.7%), and unclassified cause (n = 74, 38.9%). The 1-year MACE was 15.3% for Ath-MINOCA vs 4.5% for non-Ath-MINOCA (P = 0.015). An atherosclerotic cause was an independent predictor of MACE (HR: 5.36 [95% CI: 1.08-26.55]; P = 0.040), mainly driven by target lesion revascularization and rehospitalization, despite the composite endpoint including cardiac death and MI showing no difference. CONCLUSIONS: OCT identified a cause in 61.1% of MINOCA, in which Ath-MINOCA represents an important and distinct MINOCA subset. Ath-MINOCA were more common and associated with worse outcomes. (Incidence Rate of Heart Failure After Acute Myocardial Infarction With Optimal Treatment; NCT03297164; Paradigm Shift in the Treatment of Patients With ACS; NCT02041650).

Predictors of non-stenting strategy for acute coronary syndrome caused by plaque erosion: four-year outcomes of the EROSION study.

BACKGROUND: The EROSION study demonstrated that patients with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) caused by plaque erosion could be treated with antithrombotic therapy without stenting. However, the long-term prognosis of this strategy is still unclear. AIMS: The aim of this study was to test whether a non-stenting antithrombotic strategy was still effective at four-year follow-up and to explore potential predictors of long-term prognosis. METHODS: This study was a long-term follow-up of the EROSION study. Follow-up was conducted by phone call or clinical visit. Patients were divided into two groups - those with target lesion revascularisation (the TLR group), and the non-TLR group. RESULTS: Out of 55 patients who completed one-month follow-up, 52 patients finished four-year follow-up. The median duration was 4.8 years (range, 4.2-5.8 years). The majority of patients remained free from events, and all patients were free from hard endpoints (death, myocardial infarction, stroke, bypass surgery, or heart failure). Only one patient had gastrointestinal bleeding, and 11 patients underwent TLR. Patients in the non-TLR group had more optical coherence tomography (OCT) thrombus reduction from baseline to one month; 95% of patients in the non-TLR group versus 45% in the TLR group (p=0.001) met the primary endpoint (thrombus volume reduction >50%). Angiographic results showed that the TLR group had less improvement in diameter stenosis (p=0.014) at one month compared with the non-TLR group. CONCLUSIONS: Four-year follow-up findings reconfirmed the safety of an antithrombotic therapy without stenting for ACS caused by erosion. Patients with better response to antithrombotic therapy in the first month were less likely to require stent implantation during the next four years.