title: Thin-cap fibroatheroma and microchannel findings in optical coherence tomography correlate with subsequent progression of coronary atheromatous plaques.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Morphological characteristics of non-significant coronary plaques (NSCPs) that develop rapid progression have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to clarify the morphological characteristics of NSCPs in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) using intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-three consecutive CAD patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention were enrolled and 69 NSCPs (per cent diameter stenosis <50%) were identified on baseline angiogram. Baseline characteristics of NSCPs were evaluated by OCT, and patients were followed-up prospectively. At the second coronary angiography, the baseline OCT characteristics and plaque progression were correlated. During the 7-month follow-up period, 13 NSCPs showed angiographic progression and 56 NSCPs did not. Baseline minimum lumen diameter and diametric stenosis were similar between NSCPs with and without progression. Compared with NSCPs without progression, those with progression showed a significantly higher incidence of intimal laceration (61.5 vs. 8.9%, P < 0.01), microchannel (76.9 vs. 14.3%, P < 0.01), lipid pools (100 vs. 60.7%, P = 0.02), thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) (76.9 vs. 14.3%, P < 0.01), macrophage images (61.5 vs. 14.3%, P < 0.01), and intraluminal thrombi (30.8 vs. 1.8%, P < 0.01). Univariate regression analysis showed that TCFA and microchannel images showed high correlation with subsequent luminal progression [odds ratio (OR): 20.0, P < 0.01 and OR: 20.0, P < 0.01, respectively].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Optical coherence tomography-based complex characteristics of TCFA and microchannel were the potential predictors of subsequent progression of NSCPs in patients with CAD.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara 634-0813, Japan. suemura@naramed-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uemura
authors.forename: Ken-ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishigami
authors.forename: Tsunenari
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Soeda
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okayama
authors.forename: Ji Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Somekawa
authors.forename: Yukiji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawata
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horii
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*