title: Relationship between microalbuminuria and vulnerable plaque components in patients with acute coronary syndrome and with diabetes mellitus. Virtual histology-intravascular ultrasound.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of the present study was to use virtual histology-intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) to evaluate the relationship between microalbuminuria and plaque components in 920 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with albumin levels <30mg/g creatinine were defined as having normoalbuminuria (n=824), and those with albumin levels 30-300mg/g as having microalbuminuria (n=96). The microalbuminuria group contained more patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS; 72% vs. 61%, P=0.018) and more patients with diabetes (53% vs. 26%, P<0.001). In ACS patients, %necrotic core (NC) volume was significantly greater in the microalbuminuria group compared with the normoalbuminuria group (19±10% vs. 15±9%, P=0.019), but not in patients with stable angina. In ACS patients, thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) was observed more frequently in the microalbuminuria group (36% vs. 18%, P=0.008), and microalbuminuria was the independent predictor of TCFA (odds ratio [OR], 1.106; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.025-1.144, P=0.018). In diabetic patients, %NC volume was significantly greater in the microalbuminuria group compared with the normoalbuminuria group (20±9% vs. 16±10%, P=0.017), but not in non-diabetic patients. In diabetic patients, TCFA was observed more frequently in the microalbuminuria group (38% vs. 17%, P=0.002) and microalbuminuria was the independent predictor of TCFA (OR, 1.120; 95%CI: 1.038-1.204, P=0.012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microalbuminuria was associated with a higher number of vulnerable plaque components in ACS and diabetic patients. More intensive medical therapy is needed to stabilize the vulnerable plaque if microalbuminuria is observed in diabetic ACS patients.
authors.affiliation: Heart Center of Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Myung Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Yun Ha
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jin A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Khurshid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Dong Han
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ki Hong
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
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: Nam Sik
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Hyun Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Kye Hun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyung Wook
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Park
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: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome; D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy / Q000652:urine*; D060050:Angina, Stable / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy / Q000652:urine; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy / Q000652:urine*; D014463:Ultrasonography