title: Residual plaque burden in patients with acute coronary syndromes after successful percutaneous coronary intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to characterize and evaluate the clinical impact of untreated atherosclerotic disease after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Residual atherosclerotic disease after successful PCI may predispose future major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Compared with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), angiography underestimates the presence and severity of coronary artery disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following successful PCI of all clinically significant lesions in 697 patients with ACS, 3-vessel grayscale and radiofrequency IVUS was performed. Lesions were prospectively characterized, and patients were followed for a median of 3.4 years. A total of 3,229 untreated lesions (4.89 ± 1.98 lesions/patient) were identified by IVUS, with mean plaque burden (PB) of 49.6 ± 4.2%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By angiography these nonculprit lesions were mild, with mean diameter stenosis of 38.9 ± 15.3%. At least 1 lesion with a PB ≥70% (PB70 lesion) was found in 220 (33%) patients. By multivariable analysis, a history of prior PCI and angiographic 3-vessel disease were independent predictors of PB70 lesions. Patients with PB70 lesions had greater total percent plaque volume, normalized PB, fibroatheromas, thin-cap fibroatheromas, and normalized volumes of necrotic core and dense calcium. Patients with PB70 lesions had greater 3-year rates of MACE due to untreated nonculprit lesions (20.8% vs. 7.7%, p < 0.0001). Among imaged nonculprit lesions, the proportion of PB70 lesions causing MACE was significantly greater than non-PB70 lesions (8.7% vs. 1.0%, p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After successful PCI of all angiographically significant lesions, overall untreated atherosclerotic burden remains high, and PB70 lesions are frequently present in the proximal and mid-coronary tree. Patients with PB70 lesions have greater atherosclerosis throughout the coronary tree, have more thin-cap fibroatheromas, and are at increased risk for future cardiovascular events. (
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An Imaging Study in Patients With Unstable Atherosclerotic Lesions; NCT00180466).
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McPherson
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maehara
authors.forename: Giora
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Weisz
authors.forename: Gary S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Mintz
authors.forename: Ecaterina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cristea
authors.forename: Roxana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mehran
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verheye
authors.forename: Leroy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rabbani
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fahy
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Templin
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Alexandra J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lansky
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Bruyne
authors.forename: Patrick W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Serruys
authors.forename: Gregg W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Stone
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy