Global characterization of coronary plaque rupture phenotype using three-vessel intravascular ultrasound radiofrequency data analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the global characteristics of patients with and without evidence of plaque rupture (PR) in their coronary tree and to evaluate the phenotype of ruptured plaques using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) radiofrequency data analysis (IVUS-VH).


RESULTS
Forty patients underwent three-vessel IVUS-VH interrogation. Twenty-eight PRs were diagnosed in 26 vessels (25.7% of the vessels studied) of 20 patients (50% of the population). Ruptures located in the left anterior descending were clustered in the proximal part of the vessel, whereas ruptures located in the right coronary artery were more distally located (P=0.02). Patients with at least one PR presented larger body mass index (BMI) (28.4+/-3.7 vs. 25.8+/-2.6 kg/m(2), P=0.01) and plaque burden (40.7+/-7.6 vs. 33.7+/-8.4%, P=0.01) than patients without rupture, despite showing similar lumen cross-sectional area (9.6+/-3.3 vs. 9.2+/-2.3 mm(2), P=0.60). Among current smokers, 66.7% presented a PR in their coronary tree. Finally, PR sites showed a higher content of necrotic core compared with minimum lumen area sites (17.48+/-10.8 vs. 13.10+/-6.5%, P=0.03) and a trend towards higher calcified component.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with at least one PR in their coronary tree presented larger BMI and worse IVUS-derived characteristics compared with patients without PR.
Rodriguez-Granillo
Gastón A
GA
Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC, Bd-406, Dr Molewaterplein 40, PO Box 1738, 3015-GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
García-García
Héctor M
HM
Valgimigli
Marco
M
Vaina
Sophia
S
van Mieghem
Carlos
C
van Geuns
Robert J
RJ
van der Ent
Maarten
M
Regar
Evelyn
E
de Jaegere
Peter
P
van der Giessen
Willem
W
de Feyter
Pim
P
Serruys
Patrick W
PW
D015992:Body Mass Index; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging