OBJECTIVETo evaluate the accuracy of quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) assessment on target lesion and reference vessel in patients with diabetes mellitus with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) measurements as golden standard.

METHODSQCA and IVUS were performed in 52 diabetes mellitus patients [35 males, mean age (62.3 +/- 7.1) years]. Regression equation was ascertained with the IVUS derived plaque burden as dependent and QCA derived vessel stenosis as independent variable. The measurement results derived from the two modalities on proximal and distal reference vessels were compared.

RESULTThe regression equation (constant = 0.8286, P = 0.001) of plaque burden and vessel stenosis derived from two modalities were significantly correlated (r = 0.691, P < 0.001) but QCA overestimated the stenosis severity (57.9% +/- 15.5% vs. 53.5% +/- 12.9%, P < 0.01). Target vessels negative remodeling index in these patient was 0.87 +/- 0.23. QCA significantly underestimated the proximal and distal reference segments vessel diameters [(0.81 +/- 0.24) mm, (0.64 +/- 0.17) mm, all P < 0.05] as compared to IVUS results.

CONCLUSIONDue to the significant negative vessel remodeling, QCA overestimated the stenosis severity and underestimated the reference segments vessel diameters in patients with diabetes mellitus.