title: Plaque distribution patterns in distal left main coronary artery to predict outcomes after stent implantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the association between plaque distribution at left main (LM) bifurcation and target lesion revascularization (TLR) after stenting.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Despite favorable reported mid- and long-term results, stent implantation on LM bifurcation remains challenging. The role of atherosclerotic plaque distribution in affecting LM bifurcation stenting outcomes has not been explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 329 patients undergoing LM bifurcation stenting in 2 centers were included. A method based on different plaque locations within the bifurcation area was applied. The overall population was divided in 2 groups according to the presence of a specific pattern characterized by plaque occupying (n = 145) or not occupying (n = 184) the whole bifurcation (WB) area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics were well-balanced between the 2 groups. The WB group showed a significantly higher risk of 3-year TLR compared with the non-WB group (24.9% vs. 8.3%; unadjusted hazard ratio: 3.12; 95% confidence interval: 1.59 to 6.11; p = 0.001; adjusted hazard ratio: 2.84; 95% confidence interval: 1.43 to 5.64; p = 0.003). The 3-year TLR rate was not significantly different between patients treated with 1-or 2-stent techniques either in the WB or non-WB groups. In the WB group, TLR was similar between patients with lesions classified as 1,1,1 and non-1,1,1 by the Medina classification (20.7% vs. 26.8%, p = 0.57, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The WB pattern is associated with enhanced TLR risk, regardless of stent technique and plaque severity. This could impact the treatment strategy of high-risk lesions involving the whole bifurcation area.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Department, Ferrarotto Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tamburino
authors.forename: Piera
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Capranzano
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Capodanno
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tagliareni
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biondi-Zoccai
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanfilippo
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caggegi
authors.forename: Giombattista
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barrano
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monaco
authors.forename: Salvatore D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Tomasello
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Manna
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Salvo
authors.forename: Imad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sheiban
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008670:Metals