title: Dynamic change of high-risk plaque detected by coronary computed tomographic angiography in patients with subclinical coronary artery disease.
abstract: We studied the dynamic change of high-risk plaque detected by coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) in patients with subclinical coronary artery disease. We analyzed paired CCTA findings in 103 patients. The follow-up period was 1.37 ± 0.49 years. We studied the prevalence and change of high-risk plaque (HRP) defined as positive remodeling, low attenuation plaque, spotty calcification, or napkin-ring sign. Of 413 plaques detected by CCTA, thirty-seven patients had 47 HRP at baseline. At follow-up, eight patients showed disappearance of HRP. Sixty-six patients had no HRP at baseline. At follow-up, new HRP was detected in 12 patients. As a whole, 20 patients (19.4 %) showed appearance or disappearance of HRP. For 29 patients with persistent HRP, five of twenty-one patients with one HRP at baseline showed two HRP at follow-up. Five of eight patients with two HRP at baseline showed one HRP at follow-up. As a whole, in 27 % of patients with persistent HRP, the number of HRP changed. These changes were neither associated with statin use nor location of the HRP. Our results showed that about 20 % of patients showed appearance or disappearance of HRP 1 year later. In addition, in 27 % of patients with persistent HRP, the number of HRP increased or decreased. These results suggest a dynamic nature of HRP.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Okayama Kyokuto Hospital, 567-1, Kurata, Naka-ku, Okayama, Japan. kiwasaki@kyokuto.or.jp.
authors: Kohichiro
authors: K
authors: Iwasaki
authors: Department of Cardiology, Okayama Kyokuto Hospital, 567-1, Kurata, Naka-ku, Okayama, Japan.
authors: Takeshi
authors: T
authors: Matsumoto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Coronary artery disease; Coronary computed tomographic angiography; High-risk plaque; Low attenuation plaque; Positive remodeling