Relation between aortic knob calcium observed by simple chest x-ray or fluoroscopy and plaque components in patients with diabetes mellitus.
We used virtual histology and intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) to evaluate the relation between aortic knob calcium (AKC) and plaque components in diabetic patients. The presence of AKC was assessed by posteroanterior view of chest x-ray or fluoroscopy at the time of coronary angiography. A total of 137 de novo coronary culprit lesions in 137 consecutive diabetic patients were studied and coronary plaque components were analyzed using VH-IVUS according to the presence (n = 45) or absence (n = 92) of AKC. Patients with AKC were significantly older (68 +/- 8 vs 62 +/- 9 years, p <0.001) and had significantly higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (1.97 +/- 1.33 vs 0.48 +/- 1.35 mg/dl, p = 0.005) compared to patients without AKC. Absolute and percent necrotic core (NC) volumes (30 +/- 26 vs 20 +/- 19 mm(3), p = 0.003; 23.4 +/- 10.3% vs 17.4 +/- 8.9%, p = 0.005, respectively) and absolute and percent dense calcium (DC) volumes (17 +/- 12 vs 11 +/- 12 mm(3), p = 0.010; 13.3 +/- 7.3% vs 9.6 +/- 7.9%, p = 0.011, respectively) were significantly greater in lesions with AKC compared to those without AKC. Multivariable analysis showed that age (odds ratio [OR] 1.233, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.121 to 1.355, p <0.001), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (OR 1.871, 95% CI 1.090 to 2.943, p = 0.007), absolute DC volume (OR 1.020, 95% CI 1.050 to 1.178, p = 0.003), and absolute NC volume (OR 1.026, 95% CI 1.057 to 1.199, p <0.001) were independent predictors of AKC. In conclusion, diabetic patients with AKC were older, had greater NC- and DC-containing plaques, and higher inflammatory status compared to diabetic patients without AKC.
Hong
Young Joon
YJ
The Heart Center of Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
Jeong
Myung Ho
MH
Choi
Yun Ha
YH
Ma
Eun Hye
EH
Ko
Jum Suk
JS
Lee
Min Goo
MG
Park
Keun Ho
KH
Sim
Doo Sun
DS
Yoon
Nam Sik
NS
Youn
Hyun Ju
HJ
Kim
Kye Hun
KH
Park
Hyung Wook
HW
Kim
Ju Han
JH
Ahn
Youngkeun
Y
Cho
Jeong Gwan
JG
Park
Jong Chun
JC
Kang
Jung Chaee
JC
D000368:Aged; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional