Do systemic risk factors impact invasive findings from virtual histology? Insights from the international virtual histology registry.
OBJECTIVE
Cardiovascular risk factors such as elevated serum lipid levels are important in the development of coronary atherosclerosis. Radiofrequency (RF) analysis of intravascular ultrasound [IVUS, Virtual histology (VH)] offers a unique tool to study the composition of coronary atherosclerotic plaque in vivo. We used data from the multicentre VH registry to assess the association between cardiovascular risk factors and coronary plaque volume and composition.


RESULTS
Between August 2004 and July 2006, 990 patients in 42 centres were enrolled in a prospective, multicentre, non-randomized global VH registry. Coronary artery imaging was performed by conventional IVUS and RF-IVUS. The four RF-IVUS plaque components [dense calcium (DC), necrotic core (NC), fibrous (F) tissue, and fibro fatty (FF)] were analysed in every recorded frame. The results were expressed as mean cross-sectional areas, absolute volume, and percentage of total plaque volume. Risk factor assessment included evaluation of family history of previous myocardial infarction (MI), past or current smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and the laboratory measurements. Patients with diabetes had an increased relative proportion of NC (6.47 +/- 0.28 vs. 5.86 +/- 0.14%, P = 0.037) and DC (4.58 +/- 0.27 vs. 3.90 +/- 0.14%, P = 0.017), and patients with hypertension had an increased relative proportion of FF, DC (4.35 +/- 0.16 vs. 3.57 +/- 0.17%, P = 0.02) and NC (6.24 +/- 0.17 vs. 5.60 +/- 0.19%, P = 0.01). Compared with patients with LDL-C <100 mg/dL, patients with LDL-C >160 mg/dL had higher plaque volume (342.1 +/- 26.2 vs. 318.6 +/- 10.7 mm(3)). Linear regression analysis showed a correlation between the level of HDL-C and F (r = -0.149, P < 0.01), FF (r = -0.106, P < 0.01), and NC (r = -0.90, P < 0.05). The level of LDL correlated with F (r = 0.110, P < 0.01). Patients with prior MI have an increased percentage of F (30.03 +/- 0.59 vs. 28.20 +/- 0.37%, P = 0.009). Smoking had no relevant effect on plaque composition. Treatment with acetylsalicylacid and statins reduced FF with altering plaque volume.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiofrequency-IVUS detects marked differences in coronary plaque composition related to the risk factor profile with particular focus on lipid levels. Greater amounts of NC were associated with diabetes, hypertension, MI, and low HDL-C. The effects of treatment of changes related to plaque composition are underway.
Department of Cardiology, Westgerman Heart Center Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, Essen, Germany. sebastian.philipp@uk-essen.de
Sebastian
S
Philipp
Dirk
D
Böse
William
W
Wijns
Steven P
SP
Marso
Robert S
RS
Schwartz
Andreas
A
König
Amir
A
Lerman
Hector M
HM
Garcia-Garcia
Patrick W
PW
Serruys
Raimund
R
Erbel
D000368:Aged; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000473:pathology; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000473:pathology*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods; D014584:User-Computer Interface
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin