title: Intracoronary pressure measurement differences between anter﻿ior and posterior coronary territories.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intracoronary pressure measurements have improved assessment of angiographic intermediate coronary stenoses. Methodically, pressure equalization and actual measurements are frequently performed at different height levels, depending on the particular coronary territory analyzed. Considering a hypothetical influence of hydrostatic pressure and the supine position of the patient, differences in the results of intracoronary measurements between anterior and posterior vessels seem likely. The purpose of this study was to compare the results of intracoronary pressure measurements between anterior and posterior coronary territories.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intracoronary pressure measurements of 214 coronary stenoses in 158 patients were analyzed. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) was measured in all stenosis and instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) in 197 stenoses in 144 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both FFR (0.79 vs. 0.87, p < 0.001) and iFR values (0.86 vs. 0.94, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in posterior compared to anterior coronary vessels. Patients with only anterior or posterior lesions did not differ regarding clinical or lesion characteristics, in particular coronary stenosis severity (62.5 vs. 61.6 %, p = 0.27).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of intracoronary measurements were systematically higher in the posterior coronary vessels when compared with anterior vessels. This phenomenon was independent of coronary stenosis severity or any clinical characteristics in our study population.
authors: Klinik für Kardiologie, Klinikum Oldenburg, European Medical School Oldenburg-Groningen, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Rahel-Straus-Str. 10, 26133, Oldenburg, Germany. t.haerle@gmx.de.
authors: T
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0492-7044
authors: T
authors: Härle
authors: Klinik für Kardiologie, Klinikum Oldenburg, European Medical School Oldenburg-Groningen, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Rahel-Straus-Str. 10, 26133, Oldenburg, Germany.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Meyer
authors: Medizinische Klinik II, Gemeinschaftsklinikum Koblenz-Mayen, Koblenz, Germany.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Bojara
authors: Klinik für Kardiologie, Klinikum Oldenburg, European Medical School Oldenburg-Groningen, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Rahel-Straus-Str. 10, 26133, Oldenburg, Germany.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Vahldiek
authors: Klinik für Kardiologie, Klinikum Oldenburg, European Medical School Oldenburg-Groningen, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Rahel-Straus-Str. 10, 26133, Oldenburg, Germany.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Elsässer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D053805:Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Cardiac catheterization; Coronary stenosis; Fractional flow reserve; Hydrostatic pressure; Instantaneous wave-free ratio