Humans ; Coronary Angiography ; Microcirculation ; Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome ; Vascular Resistance ; Coronary Vessels ; Coronary Circulation ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial

When invasively assessing coronary artery disease, the primary goal should be to determine whether the disease is causing a patient's symptoms and whether it is likely to cause future cardiac events. The presence of myocardial ischemia is our best gauge of whether a lesion is responsible for symptoms and likely to result in a future cardiac event. In the catheterization laboratory, fractional flow reserve (FFR) measured with a coronary pressure wire is the reference standard for identifying ischemia-producing lesions. Its spatial resolution is unsurpassed with it not only being vessel-specific, but also lesion-specific. There is now a wealth of data supporting the accuracy of measuring FFR to identify ischemia-producing lesions. FFR-guided percutaneous coronary intervention of these lesions results in improved outcomes and saves resources. Non-hemodynamically significant lesions can be safely managed medically with a low rate of subsequent cardiac events.
*Cardiac Catheterization ; Coronary Artery Disease/complications/*diagnosis/physiopathology/therapy ; *Coronary Circulation ; Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial ; *Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Patient Selection ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: Coronary flow reserve (CFR) is recognized as an indicator of myocardial perfusion. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between CFR in the non-infarcted myocardium and the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 100 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled in the present study, and divided into MACE and non-MACE groups according to the incidence of 12-month MACEs. Left ventricular function and CFR were analyzed using two-dimensional echocardiography and myocardial contrast echocardiography at one week after PCI. Cardiac troponin I levels were assayed to estimate peak concentrations thereof. RESULTS: The MACE group was associated with lower CFR, compared to the non-MACE group (2.41 vs. 2.77, p < 0.001). In the multivariable model, CFR in the non-infarcted myocardium was an independent predictor of 12-month MACE (hazard ratio: 0.093, 95% confidence interval: 0.020–0.426, p=0.002) after adjustment for baseline demographic and clinical characteristics. CONCLUSION: CFR in the non-infarcted myocardium is a useful marker for predicting 12-month MACEs in patients with AMI undergoing primary PCI.
Aged ; Coronary Circulation/*physiology ; *Echocardiography ; Female ; Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/diagnostic imaging/*physiopathology/*surgery ; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging ; Myocardium/*pathology ; *Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Treatment Outcome ; Ventricular Function, Left/*physiology

No abstract available.
Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiovascular Agents/therapeutic use ; Collateral Circulation ; Coronary Angiography/methods ; Coronary Stenosis/*diagnosis/drug therapy/physiopathology ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies/*diagnosis/physiopathology ; *Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Coronary Circulation*

Conventional coronary angiography (CAG) has limitations in evaluating lesions producing ischemia. Three dimensional quantitative coronary angiography (3D-QCA) shows reconstructed images of CAG using computer based algorithm, the Cardio-op B system (Paieon Medical, Rosh Ha'ayin, Israel). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether 3D-QCA can reliably predict ischemia assessed by myocardial fractional flow reserve (FFR) < 0.80. 3D-QCA images were reconstructed from CAG which also were evaluated with FFR to assess ischemia. Minimal luminal diameter (MLD), percent diameter stenosis (%DS), minimal luminal area (MLA), and percent area stenosis (%AS) were obtained. The results of 3D-QCA and FFR were compared. A total of 266 patients was enrolled for the present study. FFR for all lesions ranged from 0.57 to 1.00 (0.85 +/- 0.09). Measurement of MLD, %DS, MLA, and %AS all were significantly correlated with FFR (r = 0.569, 0609, 0.569, 0.670, respectively, all P < 0.001). In lesions with MLA < 4.0 mm2, %AS of more than 65.5% had a 80% sensitivity and a 83% specificity to predict FFR < 0.80 (area under curve, AUC was 0.878). 3D-QCA can reliably predict coronary lesions producing ischemia and may be used to guide therapeutic approach for coronary artery disease.
Aged ; Coronary Angiography/*methods ; Coronary Circulation ; Coronary Stenosis/etiology/*physiopathology/*radiography ; Female ; *Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/*methods ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia/complications/physiopathology/*radiography ; Radiographic Image Enhancement/methods ; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted/methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Coronary Circulation* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Hypersensitivity*

Single anomalous coronary artery is a rare congenital anomaly of the coronary circulation. Right coronary artery (RCA) arising from the left anterior descending artery is an extermely rare variety of single coronary artery. We report a 68-year-old patient with a single coronary artery system, in whom the right coronary artery originated from the mid left anterior descending artery.
Aged ; Arteries* ; Coronary Circulation ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans

Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Circulation ; Coronary Vessels ; Humans ; Microcirculation ; Myocardial Ischemia

No abstract available.
Coronary Circulation* ; Heart* ; Rats, Inbred SHR*