Non-Invasive Assessment of Endothelial Shear Stress in Myocardial Bridges Using Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography

Myocardial bridging (MB) is a segment of coronary arteries with an intramural course, typically spared from atherosclerosis, while the adjacent proximal segment is reported to be atherosclerosis-prone, a phenomenon contributed to local endothelial shear stress (ESS). We aimed to describe the ESS milieu in coronaries with MBs combining coronary computed tomography angiography with computational fluid dynamics and to investigate the association of atherosclerosis presence proximal to MBs with hemorheological characteristics. Patients (n = 36) were identified and 36 arteries with MBs (11 deep and 25 superficial) were analyzed. ESS did not fluctuate 5 mm proximally to MBs vs 5 mm within MBs (0.94 vs 1.06 Pa, p = .56). There was no difference when comparing ESS in the proximal versus mid versus distal MB segments (1.48 vs 1.37 vs 1.9 Pa, p = ns). In arteries with plaques (n = 12), no significant ESS variances were observed around the MB entrance, when analyzing all arteries (p = .81) and irrespective of morphological features of the bridged segment (deep MBs; p = .65, superficial MBs; p = .84). MBs are characterized by homogeneous, atheroprotective ESS, possibly explaining the absence of atherosclerosis within bridged segments. The interplay between ESS and atherosclerosis is potentially not different in arteries with MB compared with arteries without bridges.

A systematic review for the evidence of recommendations and guidelines in hybrid nuclear cardiovascular imaging

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the level of evidence of expert recommendations and guidelines for clinical indications and procedurals in hybrid nuclear cardiovascular imaging.

METHODS

From inception to August 2023, a PubMed literature analysis of the latest version of guidelines for clinical hybrid cardiovascular imaging techniques including SPECT(/CT), PET(/CT), and PET(/MRI) was performed in two categories: (1) for clinical indications for all-in primary diagnosis; subgroup in prognosis and therapy evaluation; and for (2) imaging procedurals. We surveyed to what degree these followed a standard methodology to collect the data and provide levels of evidence, and for which topic systematic review evidence was executed.

RESULTS

A total of 76 guidelines, published between 2013 and 2023, were included. The evidence of guidelines was based on systematic reviews in 7.9% of cases, non-systematic reviews in 47.4% of cases, a mix of systematic and non-systematic reviews in 19.7%, and 25% of guidelines did not report any evidence. Search strategy was reported in 36.8% of cases. Strengths of recommendation were clearly reported in 25% of guidelines. The notion of external review was explicitly reported in 23.7% of cases. Finally, the support of a methodologist was reported in 11.8% of the included guidelines.

CONCLUSION

The use of evidence procedures for developing for evidence-based cardiovascular hybrid imaging recommendations and guidelines is currently suboptimal, highlighting the need for more standardized methodological procedures.

Restoration of Life Expectancy After Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Mitral Valve Repair

BACKGROUND

Survival data after mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) are scarce, and its impact on predicted life expectancy is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of TEER on postprocedural life expectancy among patients enrolled in the MitraSwiss registry through a relative survival (RS) analysis.

METHODS

Consecutive TEER patients 60 to 89 years of age enrolled between 2011 and 2018 (N = 1140) were evaluated. RS was defined as the ratio between post-TEER survival and expected survival in an age-, sex- and calendar period-matched group derived from the Swiss national 2011 to 2019 mortality tables. The primary aim was to assess 5-year survival and RS after TEER. The secondary aim was to assess RS according to the etiology of mitral regurgitation, age class and sustained procedural success over time.

RESULTS

Overall, 5-year survival after TEER was 59.3% (95% CI: 54.9%-63.4%), whereas RS reached 80.5% (95% CI: 74.6%-86.0%). RS was 91.1% (95% CI: 82.5%-98.6%) in primary mitral regurgitation (PMR) and 71.5% (95% CI: 63.0%-79.3%) in secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR). Patients 80 to 89 years of age (n = 579) showed high 5-year RS (93.0%; 95% CI: 83.3%-101.9%). In this group, restoration of predicted life expectancy was achieved in PMR with a 5-year RS of 100% (95% CI: 87.9%-110.7%), whereas sustained procedural success increased the RS rate to 90.6% (95% CI: 71.3%-107.3%) in SMR.

CONCLUSIONS

Mitral TEER in patients 80 to 89 years of age is able to restore predicted life expectancy in PMR, whereas in SMR with sustained procedural success, high RS estimates were observed. Our analysis suggests that successful, sustained mitral regurgitation reduction is key to survival improvement, particularly in patients 80 to 89 years of age.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation With Balloon-Expandable Valve Prostheses in Patients With Pure Native Non- or Mildly Calcified Aortic Regurgitation: A Case-Series and Literature Review

OBJECTIVE

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an off-label procedure for selected patients at high surgical risk with native non- or mildly calcified aortic regurgitation (AR). Traditionally, self-expanding transcatheter heart valves (THV) have been favored over balloon-expandable THV's probably due to assumed better device fixation. We report a series of patients with native severe AR successfully treated with a balloon-expandable THV.

METHODS

Between 2019 and 2022, 8 consecutive patients (5 male, 82 (interquartile range 80-85) years old, STS PROM 4.0 % (interquartile range 2.9-6.0), EuroSCORE II 5.5% (IQR 4.1-7.0) with non- or mildly calcified pure AR were treated with a balloon-expandable THV. All procedures were performed after heart team discussion and standardized diagnostic workup. Clinical endpoints were collected prospectively and included device success, procedural complications (according to VARC-2 definitions) and 1-month survival.

RESULTS

Device success was 100% with no device embolization or migration. Two preprocedural nonfatal complications were reported (one access site complication that required stent implantation and one pericardial tamponade). Two patients required permanent pacemaker implantation for complete AV block. At discharge and at 30-day follow-up all patients were alive and no patient showed more than minimal AR.

CONCLUSION

This series documents that treatment of native non- or mildly calcified AR with balloon-expandable THV is feasible, safe and offers favorable short-term clinical outcomes. Hence, TAVI with balloon-expandable THVs may offer a valuable treatment option in patients with native AR at high surgical risk.

Trends in Coronary and Structural Heart Interventions in Switzerland over the Last 16 Years and Impact of COVID-19: Insights from the National Swiss PCI Survey

BACKGROUND

Considering the global burden of cardiovascular disease, we analysed trends in interventional coronary and structural procedures over the past 16 years (2005-2021), using continuous data from the Swiss national registry.

METHODS

Based on a standardised questionnaire, data on coronary and structural interventions in Switzerland were assessed by the Working Group Interventional Cardiology of the Swiss Society of Cardiology (SSC). Here, we analysed the trend of annually performed interventions from 2005 to 2021 in Switzerland and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

RESULTS

We observed a constant increase in the total number of cases (including coronary angiographies (CA) and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI)) from 36,436 cases in 2005 to 56,555 cases in 2021 (+55%). With 18 cases in 2007, TAVI procedures have increased to 2004 cases in 2021. During the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a slight decrease in CAs and PCIs of 9.15% was observed. In contrast, we did not observe an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of no TAVI procedures. Most importantly, all cause in-hospital mortality for coronary interventions before and during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic was comparable (1.4% vs. 1.3%).

CONCLUSION

Over a 16-year period, we observed an upward trend in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for coronary as well as structural heart disease, with only a small short-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on interventions and a similar procedure-related in-hospital-mortality in Switzerland.

Clinical applications of cardiac computed tomography: a consensus paper of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging-part I

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) was introduced in the late 1990's. Since then, an increasing body of evidence on its clinical applications has rapidly emerged. From an initial emphasis on its technical efficiency and diagnostic accuracy, research around cardiac CT has now evolved towards outcomes-based studies that provide information on prognosis, safety, and cost. Thanks to the strong and compelling data generated by large, randomized control trials, the scientific societies have endorsed cardiac CT as pivotal diagnostic test for the management of appropriately selected patients with acute and chronic coronary syndrome. This consensus document endorsed by the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging is divided into two parts and aims to provide a summary of the current evidence and to give updated indications on the appropriate use of cardiac CT in different clinical scenarios. This first part focuses on the most established applications of cardiac CT from primary prevention in asymptomatic patients, to the evaluation of patients with chronic coronary syndrome, acute chest pain, and previous coronary revascularization.

Clinical applications of cardiac computed tomography: a consensus paper of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging-part II

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) was initially developed as a non-invasive diagnostic tool to detect and quantify coronary stenosis. Thanks to the rapid technological development, cardiac CT has become a comprehensive imaging modality which offers anatomical and functional information to guide patient management. This is the second of two complementary documents endorsed by the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging aiming to give updated indications on the appropriate use of cardiac CT in different clinical scenarios. In this article, emerging CT technologies and biomarkers, such as CT-derived fractional flow reserve, perfusion imaging, and pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation, are described. In addition, the role of cardiac CT in the evaluation of atherosclerotic plaque, cardiomyopathies, structural heart disease, and congenital heart disease is revised.

Non-invasive Imaging in Coronary Syndromes - Recommendations of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging and the American Society of Echocardiography, in Collaboration with the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography and Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide, with a high socioeconomic impact.(1) Non-invasive imaging modalities play a fundamental role in the evaluation and management of patients with known or suspected CAD. Imaging end-points have served as surrogate markers in many observational studies and randomized clinical trials that evaluated the benefits of specific therapies for CAD.(2) A number of guidelines and recommendations have been published about coronary syndromes by cardiology societies and associations, but have not focused on the excellent opportunities with cardiac imaging. The recent European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2019 guideline on chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) and 2020 guideline on acute coronary syndromes in patients presenting with non-ST-segment elevation (NSTE-ACS) highlight the importance of non-invasive imaging in the diagnosis, treatment, and risk assessment of the disease.(3)(4) The purpose of the current recommendations is to present the significant role of non-invasive imaging in coronary syndromes in more detail. These recommendations have been developed by the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) and the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), in collaboration with the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, and the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, all of which have approved the final document.

Value of 12-lead electrocardiogram to predict myocardial scar on FDG PET in heart failure patients

PURPOSE

A surface 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is widely available, fast, inexpensive, and safe. However, its value to predict a true myocardial scar in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) has not been studied extensively yet. This study was conducted to assess whether Q waves on resting surface 12-lead ECG are predictive of non-viable myocardium in patients with ICM.

METHODS

We analyzed resting ECGs of 149 patients with ICM undergoing cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) with 13N-ammonia (NH3) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) at our institution. Pathological Q waves and QS complexes were assigned to one of three coronary artery territories and compared to the PET findings. Myocardial scar was defined as 2 or more contiguous myocardial segments with an average (matched) reduction of NH3 and FDG uptake <50% of the maximum value.

RESULTS

Pathological Q waves had a sensitivity and specificity of 70% and 40%, respectively, and a PPV and NPV of 37% and 73%, respectively, to detect myocardial scar on FDG PET. For QS complexes, sensitivity and specificity were 46% and 59%, respectively, and PPV and NPV were 36% and 68%, respectively. Sensitivity was lower, but specificity was significantly higher in both the LCX and RCA compared to the LAD territory (p<0.001), particularly for QS complexes.

CONCLUSION

Pathological Q waves on resting 12-lead ECG have poor or at best moderate sensitivity and specificity to detect myocardial scar on FDG PET. These findings support the use of more advanced imaging techniques to assess myocardial viability in ICM.

Anatomical and functional coronary imaging to predict long-term outcome in patients with suspected coronary artery disease: the EVINCI-outcome study

AIMS

To investigate the prognostic relevance of coronary anatomy, coronary function, and early revascularization in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODS AND RESULTS

From March 2009 to June 2012, 430 patients with suspected CAD (61 ± 9 years, 62% men) underwent coronary anatomical imaging by computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) and coronary functional imaging followed by invasive coronary angiography (ICA) if at least one non-invasive test was abnormal. Obstructive CAD was documented by ICA in 119 patients and 90 were revascularized within 90 days of enrolment. Core laboratory analysis showed that 134 patients had obstructive CAD by CTCA (>50% stenosis in major coronary vessels) and 79 significant ischaemia by functional imaging [>10% left ventricular (LV) myocardium]. Over mean follow-up of 4.4 years, major adverse events (AEs) (all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or hospital admission for unstable angina or heart failure) or AEs plus late revascularization (LR) occurred in 40 (9.3%) and 58 (13.5%) patients, respectively. Obstructive CAD at CTCA was the only independent imaging predictor of AEs [hazard ratio (HR) 3.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10-9.30; P = 0.033] and AEs plus LR (HR 4.3, 95% CI 1.56-11.81; P = 0.005). Patients with CAD in whom early revascularization was performed in the presence of ischaemia and deferred in its absence had fewer AEs, similar to patients without CAD (HR 2.0, 95% CI 0.71-5.51; P = 0.195).

CONCLUSION

Obstructive CAD imaged by CTCA is an independent predictor of clinical outcome. Early management of CAD targeted to the combined anatomical and functional disease phenotype improves clinical outcome.

Procedural recommendations of cardiac PET/CT imaging: standardization in inflammatory-, infective-, infiltrative-, and innervation- (4Is) related cardiovascular diseases: a joint collaboration of the EACVI and the EANM: summary

With this summarized document we share the standard for positron emission tomography (PET)/(diagnostic)computed tomography (CT) imaging procedures in cardiovascular diseases that are inflammatory, infective, infiltrative, or associated with dysfunctional innervation (4Is) as recently published in the European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. This standard should be applied in clinical practice and integrated in clinical (multicentre) trials for optimal standardization of the procedurals and interpretations. A major focus is put on procedures using [¹⁸F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose ([¹⁸F]FDG), but 4Is PET radiopharmaceuticals beyond [¹⁸F]FDG are also described in this summarized document. Whilst these novel tracers are currently mainly applied in early clinical trials, some multicentre trials are underway and we foresee in the near future their use in clinical care and inclusion in the clinical guidelines. Diagnosis and management of 4Is related cardiovascular diseases are generally complex and often require a multidisciplinary approach by a team of experts. The new standards described herein should be applied when using PET/CT and PET/magnetic resonance, within a multimodality imaging framework both in clinical practice and in clinical trials for 4Is cardiovascular indications.

Position paper of the EACVI and EANM on artificial intelligence applications in multimodality cardiovascular imaging using SPECT/CT, PET/CT, and cardiac CT

In daily clinical practice, clinicians integrate available data to ascertain the diagnostic and prognostic probability of a disease or clinical outcome for their patients. For patients with suspected or known cardiovascular disease, several anatomical and functional imaging techniques are commonly performed to aid this endeavor, including coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and nuclear cardiology imaging. Continuous improvement in positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and CT hardware and software has resulted in improved diagnostic performance and wide implementation of these imaging techniques in daily clinical practice. However, the human ability to interpret, quantify, and integrate these data sets is limited. The identification of novel markers and application of machine learning (ML) algorithms, including deep learning (DL) to cardiovascular imaging techniques will further improve diagnosis and prognostication for patients with cardiovascular diseases. The goal of this position paper of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) is to provide an overview of the general concepts behind modern machine learning-based artificial intelligence, highlights currently prefered methods, practices, and computational models, and proposes new strategies to support the clinical application of ML in the field of cardiovascular imaging using nuclear cardiology (hybrid) and CT techniques.

Heart team approach in treatment of mitral regurgitation: patient selection and outcome

OBJECTIVE

A multidisciplinary heart valve team is recommended for the evaluation of treatment in patients with valvular heart disease, but evidence supporting this concept is lacking. In patients with severe mitral regurgitation, we thought to analyse the patient selection process by the heart team for different treatment options and the outcome after treatment.

METHODS

In this single-centre cohort study, all patients treated for mitral regurgitation between July 2013 and September 2018 were included. Primary end points during follow-up were all-cause mortality and a combined end point, consisting of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular rehospitalisation and mitral valve reintervention.

RESULTS

179 patients (44.8%) were treated using Mitraclip, 185 (46.2%) by surgical repair and 36 (9.0%) by surgical replacement. The mortality risk according to EuroScore II differed significantly between treatment groups (6.6%±5.6%, 1.7%±1.5% and 3.6%±2.7% for Mitraclip, surgical repair and replacement, respectively, p<0.001). In-hospital mortality for the 3 groups were 3.4%, 1.6% and 8.3%, respectively (p=0.091). Overall, surgical repair patients had higher 4-year survival (HR 0.40 (95% CI 0.26 to 0.63), p<0.001) and fewer combined end points (HR 0.51 (95% CI 0.32 to 0.80), p<0.001) compared with surgical replacement and Mitraclip patients. However, patients undergoing Mitraclip for isolated, primary mitral regurgitation achieved very good long-term survival.

CONCLUSION

The multidisciplinary heart team assigned only low-risk patients with favourable anatomy to surgical repair, while high-risk patients underwent Mitraclip or surgical replacement. This strategy was associated with lower than expected in-hospital mortality for Mitraclip patients and high 4-year survival rates for patients undergoing surgical or percutaneous repair of isolated primary mitral regurgitation.

New Therapies to Modulate Post-Infarction Inflammatory Alterations in the Myocardium: State of the Art and Forthcoming Applications

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. AMI causes necrosis of cardiac cells and triggers a complex inflammatory response, affecting infarct size, cardiac function and clinical outcomes. This inflammatory response can be divided into 3 phases: 1) the pro-inflammatory phase, in which the release of damage-associated molecular patterns from necrotic cells triggers the secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators and attracts immune cells to clean the debris, further damaging viable myocardium, 2) the reparative phase, in which anti-inflammatory signals activate immune-modulating cells and trigger the production of a stable scar, 3) the maturation phase, in which inflammatory and fibrotic signals are suppressed, but may persist, leading to left ventricular adverse remodelling. Thus, the inflammatory response is an appealing therapeutic target to improve the outcomes of patients with AMI. Numerous anti-inflammatory therapies have shown potential in animal models, but the translation to human trials exhibited limited benefit. Glucocorticoids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs showed signals of harm due to their non-specific effects. Other broad inhibitors, e.g., methotrexate, cyclosporine, or colchicine, did not improve clinical outcomes as acute therapies for MI. Specific inhibitors of the complement cascade, adhesion molecules, or inflammatory mediators were mostly disappointing in humans. However, an interleukin-1 inhibitor (anakinra) and a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (doxycycline) improved clinical outcomes in patients with AMI. Promising RNAse1, anti-toll-like receptor 2 antibodies, and inflammasome inhibitors still need to be tested in humans. Finally, positive results should be replicated in large clinical trials before they can be implemented into the standard AMI therapy.

Multimodality imaging in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of patients with dilated cardiomyopathies: an expert consensus document from the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is defined by the presence of left ventricular or biventricular dilatation and systolic dysfunction in the absence of abnormal loading conditions or coronary artery disease sufficient to explain these changes. This is a heterogeneous disease frequently having a genetic background. Imaging is important for the diagnosis, the prognostic assessment and for guiding therapy. A multimodality imaging approach provides a comprehensive evaluation of all the issues related to this disease. The present document aims to provide recommendations for the use of multimodality imaging according to the clinical question. Selection of one or another imaging technique should be based on the clinical condition and context. Techniques are presented with the aim to underscore what is 'clinically relevant' and what are the tools that 'can be used'. There remain some gaps in evidence on the impact of multimodality imaging on the management and the treatment of DCM patients where ongoing research is important.

Procedural recommendations of cardiac PET/CT imaging: standardization in inflammatory-, infective-, infiltrative-, and innervation (4Is)-related cardiovascular diseases: a joint collaboration of the EACVI and the EANM

With this document, we provide a standard for PET/(diagnostic) CT imaging procedures in cardiovascular diseases that are inflammatory, infective, infiltrative, or associated with dysfunctional innervation (4Is). This standard should be applied in clinical practice and integrated in clinical (multicenter) trials for optimal procedural standardization. A major focus is put on procedures using [¹⁸F]FDG, but 4Is PET radiopharmaceuticals beyond [¹⁸F]FDG are also described in this document. Whilst these novel tracers are currently mainly applied in early clinical trials, some multicenter trials are underway and we foresee in the near future their use in clinical care and inclusion in the clinical guidelines. Finally, PET/MR applications in 4Is cardiovascular diseases are also briefly described. Diagnosis and management of 4Is-related cardiovascular diseases are generally complex and often require a multidisciplinary approach by a team of experts. The new standards described herein should be applied when using PET/CT and PET/MR, within a multimodality imaging framework both in clinical practice and in clinical trials for 4Is cardiovascular indications.

Coronary and structural heart interventions in Switzerland 2018

Since the first coronary angioplasty by Andreas Gr&uuml;ntzig in Zurich in 1977, the number of cardiac interventional procedures has steadily increased. The aim of this report is to summarise the state of catheter-based cardiac interventions in adults in Switzerland in 2018. Since 1987, the Working Group Interventional Cardiology of the Swiss Society of Cardiology has collected annually aggregate data from all facilities with cardiac catheterisation laboratories in the country, currently 36 institutions in 17 cantons of Switzerland. Over past years, the numbers of coronary angiography procedures (CAs) and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) increased steadily reaching 57,309 for CA and 27,318 for PCI in 2018. Among structural heart interventions, a broad spectrum of transcatheter procedures is currently available in Switzerland. Numbers of transcatheter aortic valve implantations similarly increased, with 1781 implantations in 2018.

Sex and age differences in the association of heart rate responses to adenosine and myocardial ischemia in patients undergoing myocardial perfusion imaging

BACKGROUND

In light of growing cardiovascular mortality rates observed in young women, sexual dimorphism in cardiac autonomic nervous control is gaining increasing attention. Heart rate responses to adenosine mirror autonomic activity and may carry important prognostic information.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Hemodynamic changes during adenosine stress were retrospectively analysed in a propensity-matched cohort of 1932 consecutive patients undergoing myocardial perfusion single-photon-emission computed tomography (MPI-SPECT). Heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) increased during adenosine infusion (P < 0.001). The increase in SBP and HR (heart rate reserve, HRR), was significantly more pronounced in women compared with men (P < 0.05). Patients ≤ 55 years had a higher HRR compared with patients > 55 years (46.8% vs 37.5%, P = 0.015). Women ≤ 55 years with a reversible perfusion defect on MPI-SPECT exhibited the highest HRR (89.2%), while age-matched men showed a blunted HR response to adenosine (26.4%, P = 0.01). Accordingly, age and an interaction term of female sex and increased HRR were identified as significant predictors of myocardial ischemia in a multiple regression analysis (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.02-1.9, P = 0.038).

CONCLUSION

HRR during adenosine infusion is influenced by age and sex. Our data suggest a stronger, sympathetic-driven, hemodynamic response to adenosine in younger women with myocardial ischemia.

Coronary computed tomography angiography for heart team decision-making in multivessel coronary artery disease

Aims

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) has emerged as a non-invasive diagnostic method for patients with suspected coronary artery disease, but its usefulness in patients with complex coronary artery disease remains to be investigated. The present study sought to determine the agreement between separate heart teams on treatment decision-making based on either coronary CTA or conventional angiography.

Methods and results

Separate heart teams composed of an interventional cardiologist, a cardiac surgeon, and a radiologist were randomized to assess the coronary artery disease with either coronary CTA or conventional angiography in patients with de novo left main or three-vessel coronary artery disease. Each heart team, blinded for the other imaging modality, quantified the anatomical complexity using the SYNTAX score and integrated clinical information using the SYNTAX Score II to provide a treatment recommendations based on mortality prediction at 4 years: coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), or equipoise between CABG and PCI. The primary endpoint was the agreement between heart teams on the revascularization strategy. The secondary endpoint was the impact of fractional flow reserve derived from coronary CTA (FFRCT) on treatment decision and procedural planning. Overall, 223 patients were included. A treatment recommendation of CABG was made in 28% of the cases with coronary CTA and in 26% with conventional angiography. The agreement concerning treatment decision between coronary CTA and conventional angiography was high (Cohen's kappa 0.82, 95% confidence interval 0.74-0.91). The heart teams agreed on the coronary segments to be revascularized in 80% of the cases. FFRCT was available for 869/1108 lesions (196/223 patients). Fractional flow reserve derived from coronary CTA changed the treatment decision in 7% of the patients.

Conclusion

In patients with left main or three-vessel coronary artery disease, a heart team treatment decision-making based on coronary CTA showed high agreement with the decision derived from conventional coronary angiography suggesting the potential feasibility of a treatment decision-making and planning based solely on this non-invasive imaging modality and clinical information.

Trial registration number

NCT02813473.

Gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging with cadmium-zinc-telluride detectors allows real-time assessment of dobutamine-stress-induced wall motion abnormalities

BACKGROUND

Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) during high dobutamine stress (HD) by real-time gated-SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) on a cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) gamma camera was validated versus cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).

METHODS AND RESULTS

After injecting 99mTc-tetrofosmin (320 MBq) in 50 patients (mean age 64 +/- 11 years), EF at rest and post-stress as well as relevant changes in EF at HD (ΔEF ≥ 5%) were assessed. CZT and CMR rest EF values yielded an excellent correlation and agreement (r = 0.96; P < 0.001; Bland-Altman limits of agreement (BA): + 0 to 14.8%). HD EF acquisition was feasible using CZT and correlated better to HD CMR EF than did post-stress CZT EF (r = 0.85 vs 0.76, respectively, all P < 0.001). Agreement in ΔEF detection between HD CMR and immediate post-stress CZT (reflecting standard acquisition using conventional SPECT camera unable to scan during stress) was 45%, while this increased to 85% with real-time HD CZT scan.

CONCLUSION

Real-time ultrafast dobutamine gated-SPECT MPI with a CZT device is feasible and provides accurate measurements of HD LV performance.

Characterization of functionally significant coronary artery disease by a coronary computed tomography angiography-based index: a comparison with positron emission tomography

Aims

To test the hypothesis that virtual functional assessment index (vFAI) is related with regional flow parameters derived by quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) and can be used to assess abnormal vasodilating capability in coronary vessels with stenotic lesions at coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Methods and results

vFAI, stress myocardial blood flow (MBF), and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) were assessed in 78 patients (mean age 62.2 ± 7.7 years) with intermediate pre-test likelihood of coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary stenoses ≥50% were considered angiographically significant. PET was considered positive for significant CAD, when more than one contiguous segments showed stress MBF ≤2.3 mL/g/min for 15O-water or <1.79 mL/g/min for 13N-ammonia. MFR thresholds were ≤2.5 and ≤2.0, respectively. vFAI was lower in vessels with abnormal stress MBF (0.76 ± 0.10 vs. 0.89 ± 0.07, P < 0.001) or MFR (0.80 ± 0.10 vs. 0.89 ± 0.07, P < 0.001). vFAI had an accuracy of 78.6% and 75% in unmasking abnormal stress MBF and MFR in 15O-water and 82.7% and 71.2% in 13N-ammonia studies, respectively. Addition of vFAI to anatomical CCTA data increased the ability for predicting abnormal stress MBF and MFR in 15O-water studies [AUCccta + vfai = 0.866, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.783–0.949; P = 0.013 and AUCccta + vfai = 0.737, 95% CI 0.648–0.825; P = 0.007, respectively]. An incremental value was also demonstrated for prediction of stress MBF (AUCccta + vfai = 0.887, 95% CI 0.799–0.974; P = 0.001) in 13N-ammonia studies. A similar trend was recorded for MFR (AUCccta + vfai = 0.780, 95% CI 0.632–0.929; P = 0.13).

Conclusion

vFAI identifies accurately the presence of impaired vasodilating capability. In combination with anatomical data, vFAI enhances the diagnostic performance of CCTA.

High efficiency gamma camera enables ultra-low fixed dose stress/rest myocardial perfusion imaging

Aims

We validated a 1-day myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) protocol using an ultra low-dose(ULD) equal for stress and rest on a cadmium zinc telluride (CZT).

Methods and results

Fifty-six patients underwent a 1-day MPI protocol using a standard (SD) 99mTc-tetrofosmin dose at stress (320 MBq) and rest (960 MBq) with 5 min acquisition time each (SD). Within 2 weeks MPI was repeated using ULD 99mTc-tetrofosmin equal for stress and rest (160 MBq) with 15 min acquisition time each (ULD). All scans were performed on a CZT camera (DNM 570c, GE Healthcare). Background subtraction was applied on the rest MPI of the ULD using P-mod software. Presence and extent of perfusion defect were analysed. Pearson's correlation was used to compare ejection fraction (EF), end diastolic volume (EDV), and end systolic volume (ESV) between both protocols. SD revealed ischaemia in 23, scar in 3, and an equivocal finding in 1 patient, while normal findings were documented in 29 patients. ULD resulted in the following findings: ischaemia 23, scar 3, and 30 normal scans. Congruence of SD and ULD was 22/23 for ischaemia, 3/3 for scar, and 29/29 in normal patients; one patient with ischaemia in SD was classified as scar in ULD. Overall agreement of ULD with SD was 98%. The mean extent of defect was comparable between SD and ULD for the stress (10% vs. 11%, respectively, P = NS) and rest studies (5% vs. 7%, respectively, P = NS). An excellent correlation between SD and ULD was found for EF (r = 0.93), EDV (r = 0.95), and ESV (r = 0.97).

Conclusion

CZT cameras may enable reliable MPI scanning in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease using protocols with about a factor 4-decrease in radiation dose exposure compared with traditional protocols.

Ultra-low-dose coronary artery calcium scoring using novel scoring thresholds for low tube voltage protocols-a pilot study

Aims

To determine if tube-adapted thresholds for coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring by computed tomography at 80 kilovolt-peak (kVp) tube voltage and 70-kVp yield comparable results to the standard 120-kVp protocol.

Methods and results

We prospectively included 103 patients who underwent standard scanning with 120-kVp tube voltage and additional scans with 80 kVp and 70 kVp. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.9 ± 5.1 kg/m2. For the lowered tube voltages, we applied novel kVp-adapted thresholds for calculation of CAC scores and compared them with standard 120-kVp scans using intraclass correlation and Bland-Altman (BA) analysis. Furthermore, risk-class (CAC score 0/1-10/11-100/101-400/>400) changes were assessed. Median CAC score from 120-kVp scans was 212 (interquartile range 25-901). Thirteen (12.6%) patients had zero CAC. Using the novel kVp-adapted thresholds, CAC scores derived from 80-kVp scans showed excellent correlation (r = 0.994, P < 0.001) with standard 120-kVp scans with BA limits of agreement of -235 (-39.5%) to 172 (28.9%). Similarly, for 70-kVp scans, correlation was excellent (r = 0.972, P < 0.001) but with broader limits of agreement of -476 (-85.0%) to 270 (48.2%). Only 2 (2.8%) reclassifications were observed for the 80-kVp scans in patients with a BMI <30 kg/m2 (n = 71), and 2 (6.1%) for the 70-kVp scans in patients with a BMI <25 kg/m2 (n = 33). Mean effective radiation dose was 0.60 ± 0.07 millisieverts (mSv), 0.19 ± 0.02 mSv, and 0.12 ± 0.01 mSv for the 120-kVp, 80-kVp, and 70-kVp scans, respectively.

Conclusion

The present study suggests that CAC scoring with reduced peak tube voltage is accurate if kVp-adapted thresholds for calculation of CAC scores are applied while offering a substantial further radiation dose reduction.

Corrected coronary opacification decrease from coronary computed tomography angiography: Validation with quantitative 13N-ammonia positron emission tomography

BACKGROUND

To assess the functional relevance of a coronary artery stenosis, corrected coronary opacification (CCO) decrease derived from coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has been proposed. The present study aims at validating CCO decrease with quantitative 13N-ammonia positron emission tomography (PET) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI).

METHODS AND RESULTS

This retrospective study consists of 39 patients who underwent hybrid CCTA/PET-MPI. From CCTA, attenuation in the coronary lumen was measured before and after a stenosis and corrected to the aorta to calculate CCO and its decrease. Relative flow reserve (RFR) was calculated by dividing the stress myocardial blood flow (MBF) of a vessel territory subtended by a stenotic coronary by the stress MBF of the reference territories without stenoses. RFR was abnormal in 11 vessel territories (27%). CCO decrease yielded a sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value, and accuracy for prediction of an abnormal RFR of 73%, 70%, 88%, 47%, and 70%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

CCTA-derived CCO decrease has moderate diagnostic accuracy to predict an abnormal RFR in PET-MPI. However, its high negative predictive value to rule out functional relevance of a given lesion may confer clinical implications in the diagnostic work-up of patients with a coronary stenosis.

Multimodality imaging: Bird's eye view from The European Society of Cardiology Congress 2018 Munich, August 25-29, 2018

At the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress of this year 2018, held in Munich from August 25th to 29th, 4594 abstracts were presented. Of those, 423 (10.8%) belonged to an imaging category. Experts in echocardiography (VD), cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) (CBD), nuclear imaging (OG), and cardiac computed tomography (CT) (PMH) have selected the abstracts in their areas of expertise that were of most interest to them and are summarized in this bird's eye view from this ESC meeting. These abstracts were integrated by one of the Editors of the Journal (JB).

Head-to-head comparison of adaptive statistical and model-based iterative reconstruction algorithms for submillisievert coronary CT angiography

Aims

Iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms allow for a significant reduction in radiation dose of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). We performed a head-to-head comparison of adaptive statistical IR (ASiR) and model-based IR (MBIR) algorithms to assess their impact on quantitative image parameters and diagnostic accuracy for submillisievert CCTA.

Methods and results

CCTA datasets of 91 patients were reconstructed using filtered back projection (FBP), increasing contributions of ASiR (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100%), and MBIR. Signal and noise were measured in the aortic root to calculate signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In a subgroup of 36 patients, diagnostic accuracy of ASiR 40%, ASiR 100%, and MBIR for diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) was compared with invasive coronary angiography. Median radiation dose was 0.21 mSv for CCTA. While increasing levels of ASiR gradually reduced image noise compared with FBP (up to - 48%, P < 0.001), MBIR provided largest noise reduction (-79% compared with FBP) outperforming ASiR (-59% compared with ASiR 100%; P < 0.001). Increased noise and lower SNR with ASiR 40% and ASiR 100% resulted in substantially lower diagnostic accuracy to detect CAD as diagnosed by invasive coronary angiography compared with MBIR: sensitivity and specificity were 100 and 37%, 100 and 57%, and 100 and 74% for ASiR 40%, ASiR 100%, and MBIR, respectively.

Conclusion

MBIR offers substantial noise reduction with increased SNR, paving the way for implementation of submillisievert CCTA protocols in clinical routine. In contrast, inferior noise reduction by ASiR negatively affects diagnostic accuracy of submillisievert CCTA for CAD detection.

Advanced imaging techniques (CT and MR): Gender-based diagnostic work-up in ischemic heart disease?

It is ascertained that the epidemiology and social impact of ischemic heart disease is substantially different between the two genders. Moreover, there is substantial evidence that gender is able to modulate the clinical manifestation of most cardiac diseases, and specifically of coronary artery disease. Particularly, women present less angiographically significant coronary artery disease, smaller vessel lumen, and less plaque rupture occurrence as compared to men. On the contrary, manifestations as vasospasm, impaired vasodilatation at epicardial level, and microvascular dysfunction are more common in female. In clinical practice, it is important to know the gender-based aspects of clinical disease expression and how to diversify the diagnostic work-up. Cardiac Computed Tomography and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance are relatively new diagnostic imaging tools employed for studying both the cardiac structures and the pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system. In this paper, we aim to overview the non-invasive diagnostic role in a gender's dimension, mainly focusing on Cardiac Computed Tomography and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in ischemic heart disease, and to understand whether the existing evidences support a different diagnostic work-up approach.

Multimodality Imaging in Restrictive Cardiomyopathies: An EACVI expert consensus document In collaboration with the "Working Group on myocardial and pericardial diseases" of the European Society of Cardiology Endorsed by The Indian Academy of Echocardiography

Restrictive cardiomyopathies (RCMs) are a diverse group of myocardial diseases with a wide range of aetiologies, including familial, genetic and acquired diseases and ranging from very rare to relatively frequent cardiac disorders. In all these diseases, imaging techniques play a central role. Advanced imaging techniques provide important novel data on the diagnostic and prognostic assessment of RCMs. This EACVI consensus document provides comprehensive information for the appropriateness of all non-invasive imaging techniques for the diagnosis, prognostic evaluation, and management of patients with RCM.

Systematic review of cost-effectiveness of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in patients with ischaemic heart disease: A report from the cardiovascular committee of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine. Endorsed by the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of death and disability. Several diagnostic tests, such as myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS), are accurate for the detection of CAD, as well as having prognostic value for the prediction of cardiovascular events. Nevertheless, the diagnostic and prognostic value of these tests should be cost-effective and should lead to improved clinical outcome. We have reviewed the literature on the cost-effectiveness of MPS in different circumstances: (i) the diagnosis and management of CAD; (ii) comparison with exercise electrocardiography (ECG) and other imaging tests; (iii) as gatekeeper to invasive coronary angiography (ICA), (iv) the impact of appropriate use criteria; (v) acute chest pain, and (vi) screening of asymptomatic patients with type-2 diabetes. In total 57 reports were included. Although most non-invasive imaging tests are cost-effective compared with alternatives, the data conflict on which non-invasive strategy is the most cost-effective. Different definitions of cost-effectiveness further confound the subject. Computer simulations of clinical diagnosis and management are influenced by the assumptions made. For instance, diagnostic accuracy is often defined against an anatomical standard that is wrongly assumed to be perfect. Conflicting data arise most commonly from these incorrect or differing assumptions.