Comparison of prevalence of >70% diameter narrowing of one or more major coronary arteries in patients with versus without mitral annular calcium and clinically suspected coronary artery disease

Current methods to assess mitral annular calcification and its risk factors

INTRODUCTION

Mitral annulus calcification (MAC) is a chronic, non-inflammatory, degenerative mechanism of the fibrous base of the mitral valve. While MAC was originally thought to be an age-related degenerative process, there is evidence that other mechanisms, such as atherosclerosis and abnormal calcium phosphorus metabolism, also contribute to the development of MAC.

AREAS COVERED

This paper summarizes, existing perception of clinically valid definition of MAC and the pathophysiological processes that lead to the development of MAC and the diagnostic implications of this disease entity.

EXPERT OPINION

Minimal evidence exists on the natural history and progression of MAC. Characterization of MAC progression and identification of predisposing risk factors can help to validate hypotheses. MAC is most commonly asymptomatic and incidental finding. Echocardiography is the primary imaging modality for identification and characterization of MAC and associated mitral valve (MV) disease. For patients with an indication for MV surgery, computed tomography (CT) is a complementary imaging modality for MAC. MAC is generally recognized by its characteristic density, location, and shape on echocardiography and CT, unusual variants are sometimes confused with other lesions.

Relationship between vascular damage and left ventricular concentric geometry in patients undergoing coronary angiography: a multicenter prospective study

BACKGROUND

Vascular structural (intima-media thickness) and functional (carotid pulse wave velocity, cPWV) alterations are related to different patterns of left ventricular (LV) geometry in general population samples and in hypertensive patients. The relationship between vascular damage, evaluated by both echotracking ultrasound and coronary angiography, and LV geometry has not been prospectively analyzed.

METHODS

In eight Italian centers, 399 consecutive patients, without history of prior coronary artery disease and with clinical indication to coronary angiography, prospectively underwent cardiac standard ultrasound examination for the evaluation of LV mass, indexed by height to 2.7 power (LVMi g/m) and relative wall thickness (RWT), the measurement of Doppler flow in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and the echocardiographic calcium score (eCS). In all patients measurement of common carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and cPWV by carotid ultrasound, with the realtime echotracking system was performed. The noninvasive evaluations were performed blindly to clinical information, before coronary angiography.

RESULTS

cIMT and cPWV were higher in patients with concentric LV hypertrophy (LVH) (LVMi ≥ 49 g/m in men and ≥47 g/m in women and RWT ≥ 0.42) as compared with those with normal LVMi and geometry (N: LVMi < 49 g/m in men and <47 g/m in women and RWT < 0.42) and to those with concentric remodeling (normal LVMi and RWT ≥ 0.42). Distal LAD velocity and eCS were greater in patients with concentric LVH than in others groups. At coronary angiography the prevalence of coronary stenosis (>50%) was greater in patients with concentric LVH and concentric remodeling, as compared with N. Patients with both concentric LVH and concentric remodeling showed higher values of cIMT and cPWV and distal LAD velocity and a greater prevalence of coronary stenosis (>50%) than patients with RWT less than 0.42.

CONCLUSION

Our results further reinforced the observation that in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography, concentric geometry is associated with structural and functional carotid alterations, with higher distal LAD flow velocity and eCS. In this large group of patients, concentric geometry is associated with a greater prevalence of coronary stenosis, as assessed by coronary angiography. These results might contribute to explain the greater cardiovascular risk associated with concentric remodeling and LVH.

Differential incremental value of ultrasound carotid intima-media thickness, carotid plaque, and cardiac calcium to predict angiographic coronary artery disease across Framingham risk score strata in the APRES multicentre study

AIMS

According to recent data, more accurate selection of patients undergoing coronary angiography for suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) is needed. From the Active PREvention Study multicentre prospective study, we further analyse whether carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), carotid plaques (cPL), and echocardiographic cardiac calcium score (eCS) have incremental discriminatory and reclassification predictive value for CAD over clinical risk score in subjects undergoing coronary angiography, specifically depending on their low, intermediate, or high class of clinical risk.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In eight centres, 445 subjects without history of prior CAD but with chest pain of recent onset and/or a positive/inconclusive stress test for ischaemia prospectively underwent clinically indicated elective coronary angiography after cardiac and carotid ultrasound assessments with measurements of cIMT, cPL, and eCS. The study population was divided into subjects at low (10%), intermediate (10-20%), and high (>20%) Framingham risk score (FRS). Ultrasound parameters were tested for their incremental value to predict CAD over FRS, in each pre-test risk category. No significant difference could be appreciated between the discrimination value of FRS and Diagnostic Imaging for Coronary Artery Disease score for the presence of CAD. eCS or cPL demonstrated significant incremental prediction over FRS, consistently in the three FRS categories (P < 0.01); this applied to both discrimination and reclassification, with the exception of high-risk subjects, in whom cPL was apparently not incremental over FRS, and eCS was only of borderline significance for better discrimination.

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasound eCS and cPL assessments were significant predictors of angiographic CAD in patients without prior CAD but with signs or symptoms suspect for CAD, independently and incrementally to FRS, across all pre-test risk probability strata, although in high-risk subjects, only eCS maintained an incremental value. The use of cIMT was not significantly incrementally useful in any FRS risk category.

Cardiac calcium score on 2D echo: correlations with cardiac and coronary calcium at multi-detector computed tomography

Background

To test the hypothesis that a semi-quantitative echocardiographic calcium score (eCS) significantly correlates with cardiac calcium measured by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and, secondarily, severe coronary artery calcifications and stenosis.

Methods

This is a retrospective, observational study, conducted in a tertiary centre. eCS was compared with CCTA scores of non-coronary cardiac calcium (nCACS), coronary cardiac calcium (CACS) and number of diseased coronary vessels, in 141 subjects without known coronary artery disease (CAD), who underwent both echocardiography and CCTA for clinical reasons.

Results

Age, prevalence of hypertension and all measures of calcium (eCS, nCACS and CACS) differed significantly between the no-CAD and CAD subgroups. eCS was positively correlated with nCACS (Spearman rho = 0.64, p < 0.0001), CACS (rho = 0.46, p < 0.01) and weakly with the number of diseased coronary vessels (rho = 0.28, p < 0.05). eCS and nCACS had similar area under the curve (AUC) for the prediction of severe CACS (≥400) (0.77, 95% CI 0.68-0.86 and 0.79, 95% CI 0.72-0.88) or obstructive CAD (0.63, 95% CI 0.54-0.72 and 0.63, 95% CI 0.55-0.73).

Conclusions

eCS, a calcium score easily obtainable during standard echocardiography, is moderately to strongly correlated with nCACS by CCTA. The full eCS score correlates with nCACS better than its single components. It correlates with CACS and predicts severe coronary calcification (CACS > 400), a known predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The eCS also predicts obstructive CAD, incrementally to age and clinical variables, although for this purpose CACS remains the most accurate score.

Mitral annular calcium, inducible myocardial ischemia, and cardiovascular events in outpatients with coronary heart disease (from the Heart and Soul Study)

We sought to determine whether mitral annular calcium (MAC) is associated with inducible myocardial ischemia and adverse cardiovascular outcomes in ambulatory patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). MAC is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population, but its association with CVD outcomes in patients with CAD has not been evaluated. We examined the association of MAC with inducible ischemia and subsequent cardiovascular events in 1,020 ambulatory patients with CAD who were enrolled in the Heart and Soul Study. We used logistic regression to determine the association of MAC with inducible ischemia and Cox proportional hazards models to determine the association with CVD events (myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, transient ischemic attack or death). Models were adjusted for age, gender, race, smoking, history of heart failure, blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Of the 1,020 participants 192 (19%) had MAC. Participants with MAC were more likely than those without MAC to have inducible ischemia (adjusted odds ratio 2.06, 95% confidence interval 1.41 to 3.01, p = 0.0002). During an average of 6.26 ± 2.11 years of follow-up, there were 310 deaths, 161 hospitalizations for heart failure, 118 myocardial infarctions, and 55 cerebrovascular events. MAC was associated with an increased rate of cardiovascular events (adjusted hazard ratio 1.39, 95% confidence interval 1.08 to 1.79, p = 0.01). In conclusion, we found that MAC was associated with inducible ischemia and subsequent CVD events in ambulatory patients with CAD. MAC may indicate a high atherosclerotic burden and identify patients at increased risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

Usefulness of echocardiographic assessment of cardiac and ascending aorta calcific deposits to predict coronary artery calcium and presence and severity of obstructive coronary artery disease

The presence of cardiac and aortic calcific deposits has been related to coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiovascular events. The present study aimed to evaluate whether comprehensive echocardiographic assessment of cardiac and ascending aorta calcific deposits could predict coronary calcium and obstructive CAD. A total of 140 outpatients (age 61 +/- 11 years; 90 men) without a history of CAD were studied. Aortic valve sclerosis and mitral annular, papillary muscle, and ascending aorta calcific deposits were assessed using echocardiography and semiquantified using an echocardiography-derived calcium score (ECS) ranging from 0 (no calcium visible) to 8 (severe calcific deposits). Coronary calcium scoring and noninvasive coronary angiography were performed using multislice computed tomography. Angiograms showing atherosclerosis were classified as having obstructive (> or =50% luminal narrowing) CAD or not. The relation between ECS and multislice computed tomographic findings was explored using multivariate and receiver-operator characteristic curve analyses. Only ECS was associated with coronary calcium score >400 (odds ratio [OR] 3.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.4 to 5.5, p <0.001). Similarly, only ECS (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.4 to 2.4, p <0.001) and pretest likelihood of CAD (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.8, p = 0.04) were associated with obstructive CAD. ECS > or =3 had high sensitivity and specificity in identifying patients with coronary calcium score >400 (87% for both) and obstructive CAD (74% and 82%, respectively). In conclusion, echocardiographic assessment of cardiac and ascending aorta calcium may allow detection of patients with extensive calcified coronary arterial atherosclerotic plaques.