title: Relationship between coronary artery calcium score by multidetector computed tomography and plaque components by virtual histology intravascular ultrasound.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between coronary artery calcium score (CACS) assessed by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and plaque components assessed by virtual histology-intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) in 172 coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with 250 coronary lesions. CACS was assessed according to Agatston scoring method by MDCT and patients were divided into four groups: Group I (CACS = 0 [n = 52]); Group II (CACS = 1-100 [n = 99]); Group III (CACS = 101-400 [n = 84]); and Group IV (CACS > 400 [n = 15]). Total atheroma volume was greatest in Group IV (152 ± 132 µL vs 171 ± 114 µL vs 195 ± 149 µL vs 321±182 µL, P < 0.001). The absolute dense calcium (DC) and necrotic core (NC) volumes were greatest, and relative DC volume was greatest in Group IV (5.5 ± 6.6 µL vs 11.0 ± 10.3 µL vs 15.6 ± 13.6 µL vs 36.6 ± 18.2 µL, P < 0.001, and 14.8 ± 18.2 µL vs 19.5 ± 18.9 µL vs 22.5 ± 19.1 µL vs 41.7 ± 27.9 µL, P < 0.001, and 6.4 ± 5.3% vs 11.0 ± 6.2% vs 14.0 ± 6.5% vs 20.0 ± 7.8%, P < 0.001, respectively). The absolute plaque and DC and NC volumes and the relative DC volume correlated positively with calcium score. CAD patients with high calcium score have more vulnerable plaque components (greater DC and NC-containing plaques) than those with low calcium score.
authors.affiliation: The Heart Center, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Ha
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: In Hyae
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Myung Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Khurshid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Seung Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Min Goo
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Keun-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Doo Sun
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: Ju Han
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Youngkeun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Jeong Gwan
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jong Chun
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jung Chaee
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D009336:Necrosis; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000473:pathology*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium