PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of pre-procedural coronary plaque composition assessed by virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) on late stent malapposition assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) following drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 121 patients (121 lesions) who underwent both pre-procedural VH-IVUS and follow-up OCT after DES implantation. The association between pre-procedural plaque composition [necrotic core (NC), dense calcium (DC), fibrotic (FT), and fibro-fatty (FF) volumes] assessed by VH-IVUS and late stent malapposition (percent malapposed struts) or strut coverage (percent uncovered struts) assessed by follow-up OCT was evaluated. RESULTS: Pre-procedural absolute total NC, DC, FT, and FF plaque volumes were 22.9+/-19.0, 7.9+/-9.6, 63.8+/-33.8, and 16.5+/-12.4 mm3, respectively. At 6.3+/-3.1 months post-intervention, percent malapposed and uncovered struts were 0.8+/-2.5% and 15.3+/-16.7%, respectively. Pre-procedural absolute total NC and DC plaque volumes were positively correlated with percent malapposed struts (r=0.44, p<0.001 and r=0.45, p<0.001, respectively), while pre-procedural absolute total FT plaque volume was weakly associated with percent malapposed struts (r=0.220, p=0.015). Pre-procedural absolute total DC plaque volume was the only independent predictor of late stent malapposition on multivariate analysis (beta=1.12, p=0.002). There were no significant correlations between pre-intervention plaque composition and percent uncovered struts. CONCLUSION: Pre-procedural plaque composition was associated with late stent malapposition but not strut coverage after DES implantation. Larger pre-procedural absolute total DC plaque volumes were associated with greater late stent malapposition.
Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease/*therapy/ultrasonography ; Coronary Vessels/*ultrasonography ; *Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Prosthesis Failure ; Time Factors ; Tomography, Optical Coherence/*methods ; *Ultrasonography, Interventional

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is now widely used in several fields of cardiovascular disease assessment due to recent technical developments. CMR can give physicians information that cannot be found with other imaging modalities. However, there is no guideline which is suitable for Korean people for the use of CMR. Therefore, we have prepared a Korean guideline for the appropriate utilization of CMR to guide Korean physicians, imaging specialists, medical associates and patients to improve the overall medical system performances. By addressing CMR usage and creating these guidelines we hope to contribute towards the promotion of public health. This guideline is a joint report of the Korean Society of Cardiology and the Korean Society of Radiology.
Cardiomyopathies/diagnosis/radiography ; Cardiotonic Agents/therapeutic use ; Chest Pain/complications/diagnosis/radiography ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease/*diagnosis/drug therapy/radiography ; Dobutamine/therapeutic use ; Echocardiography ; Heart Defects, Congenital/diagnosis/radiography ; Heart Failure/diagnosis/ultrasonography ; Humans ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome/complications/diagnosis ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Prognosis ; Risk Assessment ; Ventricular Function, Left/physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of intravascular ultrasound guided tranradial rotational atherectomy (RA) followed by drug eluting stent (DES) implantation in treating patients with heavily calcified coronary lesions.

METHODSClinical characteristics, coronary angiogram, intravascular ultrasound images, peri-procedure and follow-up data (including death , myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularization) of 44 patients treated with RA and DES implantation under the guidance of IVUS in our department from March 2011 to March 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. IVUS examination was carried out before RA, after RA and stent implantation to guide whether further RA or post dilatation was needed. According to the arc of calcification, the patients were divided into group A (90°-270°, 18 cases) and group B (271°-360°, 26 cases).

RESULTSIn A and B group, the arc of calcification was (195 ± 71)° in group A and (345 ± 23)° in group B (P < 0.01) , length of calcification was (34.4 ± 11.8) mm in group A and (20.0 ± 6.6) mm in group B (P < 0.05). Number of burrs used and size of largest burr used were similar between 2 groups (both P > 0.05). Acute cross sectional area gain after RA was (0.43 ± 0.32) mm in group A and (0.53 ± 0.38) mm² in group B (P > 0.05). After RA, there was significant decrease in the arc of calcification in group B compared with baseline ((324 ± 52)° vs. (345 ± 23)°, P < 0.05). The minimal lumen area and diameter were significantly increased after RA resulting in significant decrease in the plaque burden in both groups (all P < 0.05). The final minimal lumen area after stenting were similar between 2 groups (P > 0.05). Procedure success rate was 100% (44/44) without any major complications such as death, acute myocardial infarction and coronary perforation. During the (16.6 ± 6.3) months follow-up, there was 1 death in group A, 1 target lesion revascularization in group B and there was no acute myocardial infarction in the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONHeavily calcified coronary lesions can be effectively and safely treated by transradial RA under the guidance of IVUS.

Atherectomy, Coronary ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; therapy ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography, Interventional ; Vascular Calcification ; therapy

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a useful diagnostic method that provides valuable information in addition to angiography regarding the coronary vessel lumen, dimensions, plaque burden, and characteristics. The major use of IVUS in coronary intervention is to guide interventional strategies and assess optimal stent deployment. Since the introduction of the drug-eluting stent (DES), concerns about restenosis have decreased. However, high-risk lesion subsets are being routinely treated with DESs, and the incidence of suboptimal results after stent deployment, such as stent underexpansion, incomplete stent apposition, edge dissection, geographic miss, and the risk of stent thrombosis, have correspondingly increased. Thus, optimization of stent deployment under IVUS guidance may be clinically important. In this review, we focus on the potential role of IVUS in stent optimization during percutaneous coronary intervention and its clinical benefits.
Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary/adverse effects/*instrumentation/mortality ; Coronary Artery Disease/mortality/*therapy/*ultrasonography ; Coronary Restenosis/etiology ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction/etiology ; Prosthesis Design ; *Stents ; Thrombosis/etiology ; Treatment Outcome ; *Ultrasonography, Interventional

BACKGROUNDThe durable presence of polymer coating on drug-eluting stent (DES) surface may be one of the principal reasons for stent thrombosis. The long-term coronary arterial response to biodegradable polymer-coated sirolimus-eluting stent (BSES) in vivo remained unclear.

METHODSForty-one patients were enrolled in this study and virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) was performed to assess the native artery vascular responses to BSES compared with durable polymer-coated SES (DSES) during long-term follow-up (median: 8 months). The incidence of necrotic core abutting to the lumen was evaluated at follow-up.

RESULTSWith similar in-stent late luminal loss (0.15 mm (0.06-0.30 mm) vs. 0.19 mm (0.03-0.30 mm), P = 0.772), the overall incidence of necrotic core abutting to the lumen was significantly less in BSES group than in DSES group (44% vs. 63%, P < 0.05) (proximal 18%, stented site 14% and distal 12% in BSES group, proximal 19%, stented site 28% and distal 16% in DSES group). The DSES-treated segments had a significant higher incidence of necrotic core abutting to the lumen through the stent struts (73% vs. 36%, P < 0.01). In addition, more multiple necrotic core abutting to the lumen was observed in DSES group (overall: 63% vs. 36%, P < 0.05). Furthermore, when the stented segments with necrotic core abutting to the lumen had been taken into account only, DSES-treated lesions tended to contain more multiple necrotic core abutting to the lumen through the stent struts than BSES-treated lesions (74% vs. 33%), although there was no statistically significant difference between them (P = 0.06).

CONCLUSIONSBy VH-IVUS analysis at follow-up, a greater frequency of stable lesion morphometry was shown in lesions treated with BSESs compared with lesions treated with DSESs. The major reason was BSES produced less toxicity to the arterial wall and facilitated neointimal healing as a result of polymer coating on DES surface biodegraded as time went by.

Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Coronary Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sirolimus ; therapeutic use ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a usual dose of simvastatin (20 mg/day) on plaque regression and vascular remodeling at the peri-stent reference segments after bare-metal stent implantation. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) findings in 380 peri-stent reference segments (184 proximal and 196 distal to the stent) in 196 patients (simvastatin group, n = 132 vs. non-statin group, n = 64). Quantitative volumetric IVUS analysis was performed in 5-mm vessel segments proximal and distal to the stent. RESULTS: IVUS follow-up was performed at a mean of 9.4 months after stenting (range, 5 to 19 months). No significant differences were observed in the changes in mean plaque plus media (P&M) area, mean lumen area, and mean external elastic membrane (EEM) area from post-stenting to follow-up at both proximal and distal edges between the simvastatin and non-statin group. Although lumen loss within the first 3 mm from each stent edge was primarily due to an increase in P&M area rather than a change in EEM area, and lumen loss beyond 3 mm from each stent edge was due to a combination of increased P&M area and decreased EEM area, no significant differences in changes were observed in P&M, EEM, and lumen area at every 1-mm subsegment between the simvastatin and non-statin group. CONCLUSIONS: A usual dose of simvastatin does not inhibit plaque progression and lumen loss and does not affect vascular remodeling in peri-stent reference segments in patients undergoing bare-metal stent implantation.
Adult ; Aged ; *Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease/*drug therapy/ultrasonography ; Coronary Vessels/*drug effects/pathology/ultrasonography ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Lipids/blood ; Male ; Metals ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Simvastatin/*therapeutic use ; *Stents ; *Ultrasonography, Interventional

No abstract available.
*Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Artery Disease/*drug therapy ; Coronary Vessels/*drug effects/pathology ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/*pharmacology ; Metals ; Simvastatin/*pharmacology ; *Stents ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) studies of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) and paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) have demonstrated a significant reduction in neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) based on simple coronary lesions. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of SES and PES using IVUS in complex coronary lesions. METHODS: Eighty-seven patients in whom 95 drug-eluting stents (66 SES and 29 PES) were implanted in complex coronary lesions were enrolled in this study. Case selection was based on the availability of IVUS and quantitative coronary angiographic (QCA) examinations at the index procedure and at follow-up. The neointimal volume index (volume/length: NIVI) and percent neointimal volume (% NIV) were calculated. The longitudinal length of stented segments without IVUS-detectable NIH was also evaluated. RESULTS: The baseline patient demographics were similar between the SES and PES groups. At follow-up, no significant differences were observed in the vessel, plaque, or stent volume indices between the two groups. However, the NIVI and % NIV were significantly lower in the SES group (p<0.01). The longitudinal length of stented segments without IVUS-detectable NIH was significantly higher in the SES group (p<0.01). The net gain was significantly larger in the SES group (2.3+/-0.7 vs. 2.0x0.6 mm, p=0.025), while the rate of major adverse cardiac events was similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although SES showed significantly greater suppression of NIH at follow-up, both stents were highly effective at inhibiting NIH in complex coronary lesions.
Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease/radiography/*therapy/ultrasonography ; *Drug-Eluting Stents/adverse effects ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paclitaxel/*administration & dosage ; Sirolimus/*administration & dosage ; Tunica Intima/pathology ; Ultrasonography, Interventional/*methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of garlicin in treating carotid artery atherosclerotic plaque (CAAP) in patients with primary hypertension and coronary heart disease (PHT-CHD).

METHODSSeventy-nine patients with PHT-CHD were randomly divided into the treated group (39 patients) treated with garlicin and fosinopril and the control group (40 patients) treated with fosinopril alone. The change of CAAP was evaluated by high frequency ultrasonic examination every six months, and the changes of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured by ELISA, with the observation proceeding for 52 weeks totally.

RESULTSBy the end of the experiment, the number of complex plaques, Crouse integrals, intima-media thickness, serum ICAM-1 and hs-CRP were significantly lower in the treated group than those in the control group with significant difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGarlicin could stabilize CAAP to a certain extent and shows a definite vascular protective effect in patients with PHT-CHD.

Aged ; Allyl Compounds ; administration & dosage ; Antihypertensive Agents ; administration & dosage ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; drug therapy ; Disulfides ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Fosinopril ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; drug therapy ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo assess the impact of expansion grade of sirolimus eluting stent on intimal hyperplasia with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

METHODSA total of 75 patients implanted with sirolimus eluting stents for at least 8 months were enrolled in this study and IVUS could be performed in 76 stents of 73 patients and 2 patients were excluded due to total coronary occlusion. External elastic membrane (EEM) cross-sectional areas (CSA) at stent inlet and outlet, at in-stent minimal CSA; in-stent CSA, cavity CSA, intimal area (in-stent area-cavity area), maximal and minimal diameter of stent, and symmetry index of stent (minimal diameter of stent/maximal diameter of stent) were measured.

RESULTFive out of 76 stents of 73 patients developed intimal hyperplasia and intimal proliferation was inhibited by sirolimus eluting stent in patients with either minimal stent CSA/EEM CSA < 0.5 (n = 56) or >or= 0.5 (n = 20), minimal stent CSA/reference CSA < 0.9 (n = 44) or >or= 0.9 (n = 32), minimal stent CSA < 5 mm(2) (n = 25) or CSA >or= 5 mm(2) (n = 51), symmetry index of stent at minimal CSA of stent < 0.9 (n = 37) or >or= 0.9 (n = 39) during IVUS follow up.

CONCLUSIONSirolimus eluting stent inhibited intimal hyperplasia independent of stent expansion grade.

Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; therapy ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sirolimus ; administration & dosage ; Tunica Intima ; pathology ; Ultrasonography, Interventional