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Introduction: Factors affecting the angiographic outcomes of coronary de novo lesions treated with drug-coated balloons (DCBs) have not been well illustrated. The aim of the study is to establish a nomogram for predicting the risk of suboptimal diameter stenosis (DS) at angiographic follow-up., Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on a cohort of patients who underwent DCB intervention for coronary de novo lesions with angiographic follow-up data. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the independent predictors of DS ≥ 30% at follow-up, and then a nomogram model was established and validated., Results: A total of 196 patients (313 lesions) were divided into the suboptimal (DS ≥ 30%) and optimal (DS < 30%) DS groups according to quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) measurements of the target lesions at follow-up. Seven independent factors including calcified lesions, true bifurcation lesions, immediate lumen gain rate (iLG%) < 20%, immediate diameter stenosis (iDS) ≥ 30%, DCB diameter/reference vessel diameter ratio (DCB/RVD) < 1.0, DCB length and mild dissection were identified. The area under the curve (AUC) (95% CI) of the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the nomogram was 0.738 (0.683, 0.794). After the internal validation, the AUC (95% CI) was 0.740 (0.685, 0.795). The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit (GOF) test (χ 2  = 6.57, P = 0.766) and the calibration curve suggested a good predictive consistency of the nomogram., Conclusions: The well-calibrated nomogram could efficiently predict the suboptimal angiographic outcomes at follow-up. This model may be helpful to optimize lesion preparation to achieve optimal outcomes., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Healthcare Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The angiographic percent diameter stenosis (%DS) do not assess the physiological significance of epicardial coronary stenosis. The currently practised physiological indices require pressure wires with or without adenosine-induced hyperaemia. Quantitative flow ratio (QFR) is an angiography-based method to determine the functional significance of coronary stenosis. The present study aimed to analyse the diagnostic performance of QFR in comparison to fractional flow reserve (FFR) in intermediate coronary lesions., Materials and Methods: It was a single centre retrospective study to analyse the diagnostic performance of offline QFR with the previously performed FFR in the last six years. A total of 56 interrogated vessels were included for the analysis. Offline QFR analysis was performed and correlated with FFR values in the intermediate coronary stenoses., Results: The mean age of the study population was 62.4 ± 9.1 years, including 81% men. The left anterior descending artery (50%) was the most common analysed vessel followed by left circumflex (27%) and right coronary (21%) arteries. The mean % DS and % area stenosis were 45.25 ± 11.22% and 57.45% ± 16.25%, respectively. The mean FFR and QFR values were 0.83 ± 0.06 and 0.82 ± 0.10, respectively. A strong positive correlation was found between FFR and QFR with a Spearman correlation coefficient of 0.56. Receiver operating curve analysis for QFR and %DS with a FFR cut off value <0.80 showed an area under the curve of 0.97 and 0.77, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of QFR were 87.5%, 95% and 92.8%, respectively. There was a discordance in four vessels (7.1%) between QFR and FFR., Conclusion: QFR has a good diagnostic performance in comparison to the gold standard FFR for physiological assessment of intermediate lesions. Its performance is significantly better than the anatomical % DS ( p  < 0.001).

Intoduction: Despite a growing understanding of the role played by plaque morphology, the degree of carotid lumen reduction remains the principle parameter in decisions on revascularization in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is a widely used guideline-approved imaging modality, with "percent stenosis" commonly calculated as %area reduction (area stenosis - AS)., Aim: We evaluated the impact of the non-linear relationship between diameter stenosis (DS) and AS (area = π • (diameter/2) 2 , so that in concentric lesions 51%AS is 30%DS and 75%AS is 50%DS) on stenosis severity misclassification using calculation of area reduction., Material and Methods: CTA and catheter quantitative angiography (cQA) were performed in 300 consecutive patients referred to a tertiary vascular centre for potential carotid revascularization (age: 47-83 years, 33.7% symptomatic, 36% female; referral stenosis of ≥ "50%"). CTA-AS was determined by agreement of 2 experienced radiologists; cQA-DS (pivotal trials standard reference, NASCET method) was calculated by agreement of 2 corelab analysts., Results: For symptomatic lesion thresholds, CTA-AS-based calculation reclassified 76% of "< 50%" cQA-DS measurements to the "50-69%" group, and 58% of "50-69%" measurements to the "≥ 70%" group. For asymptomatic lesion thresholds, 78% of "< 60%" cQA-DS measurements were reclassified to the "60-79%" group, whereas 42% of "60-79%" cQA measurements crossed to the "≥ 80%" class. Overall, employing CTA-AS instead of cQA-DS enlarged the "60-79%" and "≥ 80%" lesion severity classes 1.6- and 5.8-fold, respectively, whereas the "≥ 70%" class increased 4.15-fold., Conclusions: Replacing the pivotal carotid trials reference standard cQA-DS "%stenosis" measurement with CTA-AS-based "%stenosis" results in a large-scale lesion/patient erroneous gain of an "indication" to revascularization or migration to a higher revascularization indication class. In consequence, unnecessary carotid procedures may be performed in the absence of cQA verification. Until guidelines rectify the "%stenosis" measurement methods with different guideline-approved imaging modalities (and, where needed, re-adjust decision thresholds), CTA-AS measurement should not be used as a basis for carotid revascularization., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Termedia Sp. z o. o.)

Background: Physician visual assessment (PVA) in invasive coronary angiography (ICA) is the current clinical method to determine stenosis severity and guide percutaneous coronary intervention. This study sought to evaluate the effect of sex differences in assessing coronary stenosis severity between PVA and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA)., Methods: 209 patients with coronary artery disease (288 coronary lesions) underwent ICA and fractional flow reserve (FFR). ICA image processing including PVA and QCA was used to quantify diameter stenosis (DS). The difference of DS (ΔDS) between PVA and QCA was defined as DS PVA -DS QCA . DS ≥50% was considered anatomically obstructive. FFR ≤0.8 was defined as myocardial ischemia., Results: Mean ± SD age was 63 ± 9 years. There were no significant differences in DS PVA (61.1 ± 16.3% vs 60.1 ± 18.9%) and DS QCA (53.1 ± 12.1% vs 55.4 ± 14.3%) between females and males. However, ΔDS between PVA and QCA was higher in females (8.0 ± 10.9%) than in males (4.7 ± 10.9%) (P = 0.03). Thirty-four of 72 vessels (47.2%) in female patients and 75 of 216 vessels (34.7%) in male patients were classified differently by at least one grade using PVA compared to QCA assessment. DS PVA and DS QCA were negatively correlated with FFR in females (r PVA  = -0.397, r QCA  = -0.448) with an even stronger negative correlation in males (r PVA  = -0.607, r QCA  = -0.607). ROC analysis demonstrated that DS QCA had better discrimination capability for myocardial ischemia (FFR ≤ 0.80) than DS PVA in both sexes (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: A systematic bias was found in PVA (QCA reference) for overestimating severity of coronary artery disease in females compared to males., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Visual estimation (VE) of coronary stenoses is the first step during invasive coronary angiography. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of VE together with invasive functional assessment (IFA) in defining the functional significance (FS) of coronary stenoses based on the opinion of multiple operators., Methods: Fourteen independent operators visually evaluated 133 coronary lesions which had a previous FFR measurement, indicating the degree of stenosis (DS), FS and IFA intention. We determined the accuracy of FS prediction using several scenarios combining individual and group decision, considering IFA as deemed necessary by the operator or only in intermediate lesions., Results: The accuracy of VE in predicting FS was largely variable between operators (average 66.1%); it improved significantly when IFA was used either as per operator's opinion (86.3%; p < 0.0001) or only in intermediate DS (82.9; p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between using IFA per observer's opinion or only in intermediate DS lesions ( p = 0.166). The poorest accuracy of VE for FS was obtained in intermediate DS lesions (59.1%)., Conclusions: There are significant inter-observer differences in reporting the degree of DS, while the accuracy of VE prediction of FS is also largely dependent on the operator, and the worst performance is obtained in the evaluation of intermediate DS.

Although drug-eluting stents (DES) have become the mainstay of percutaneous coronary intervention, late and very late stent thrombosis remains a concern. Drug-coated balloons (DCB) have the advantage of preserving the anti-restenotic benefits of DES while minimizing potential long-term safety concerns. Currently the two methods to ensure successful DCB treatment of a stenotic lesion are angiography or physiology-guided DCB application. This review will evaluate these two methods based on previous evidence and make suggestions on how to perform DCB treatment more efficiently and safely.

Objectives: This study sought to identify culprit lesion (CL) precursors among acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients based on qualitative and quantitative computed tomography-based plaque characteristics., Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) has been validated for patient-level prediction of ACS. However, the applicability of coronary CTA to CL assessment is not known., Methods: Utilizing the ICONIC (Incident COroNary Syndromes Identified by Computed Tomography) study, a nested case-control study of 468 patients with baseline coronary CTA, the study included ACS patients with invasive coronary angiography-adjudicated CLs that could be aligned to CL precursors on baseline coronary CTA. Separate blinded core laboratories adjudicated CLs and performed atherosclerotic plaque evaluation. Thereafter, the study used a boosted ensemble algorithm (XGBoost) to develop a predictive model of CLs. Data were randomly split into a training set (80%) and a test set (20%). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of this model was compared with that of diameter stenosis (model 1), high-risk plaque features (model 2), and lesion-level features of CL precursors from the ICONIC study (model 3). Thereafter, the machine learning (ML) model was applied to 234 non-ACS patients with 864 lesions to determine model performance for CL exclusion., Results: CL precursors were identified by both coronary angiography and baseline coronary CTA in 124 of 234 (53.0%) patients, with a total of 582 lesions (containing 124 CLs) included in the analysis. The ML model demonstrated significantly higher area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for discriminating CL precursors (0.774; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.758 to 0.790) compared with model 1 (0.599; 95% CI: 0.599 to 0.599; p < 0.01), model 2 (0.532; 95% CI: 0.501 to 0.563; p < 0.01), and model 3 (0.672; 95% CI: 0.662 to 0.682; p < 0.01). When applied to the non-ACS cohort, the ML model had a specificity of 89.3% for excluding CLs., Conclusions: In a high-risk cohort, a boosted ensemble algorithm can be used to predict CL from non-CL precursors on coronary CTA., (Copyright © 2020 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes are under substantially higher risk of in-stent restenosis (ISR) after coronary stent implantation. We sought to investigate whether visit-to-visit HbA 1c variability is a potential predictor of ISR in diabetic patients after stent implantation., Methods: We consecutively enrolled type 2 diabetic patients who underwent successful elective percutaneous coronary intervention and performed follow-up coronary angiography after around 12 months. The incidence of ISR and its relationship with visit-to-visit HbA 1c variability, expressed as coefficient of variation (CV), standard deviation (SD) and variability independent of the mean (VIM), were studied. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were constructed to analyze the predictive value of HbA 1c variability for ISR., Results: From September 2014 to July 2018 in Ruijin Hospital, a total of 420 diabetic patients (688 lesions) after stent implantation were included in the final analysis. During a mean follow-up of 12.8 ± 1.3 months, the incidence of ISR was 8.6%, which was significantly increased in patients with higher CV of HbA 1c (P = 0.001). The mean diameter stenosis (DS), net luminal loss and net luminal gain were 22.9 ± 16.8%, 0.42 ± 0.88 mm and 1.66 ± 0.83 mm, respectively. Greater DS was observed in subjects with higher tertiles of CV of HbA 1c (P < 0.001), and this trend was more prominent in patients with optimal glycemic control (HbA 1c  ≤ 7%) in the baseline. In multivariate analysis, HbA 1c variability was independently associated with incidence of ISR after adjustment for traditional risk factors and mean HbA 1c (HR: 3.00 [95% CI 1.14-7.92] for highest vs. lowest tertile). Inclusion of CV of HbA 1c led to a better risk stratification accuracy. Assessing HbA 1c variability by SD or VIM yielded similar findings., Conclusions: This study suggests that visit-to-visit HbA 1c variability is an independent predictor of incidence of ISR in patients with type 2 diabetes after stent implantation. Trial registration NCT02089360: NCT.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the performance of various cardiac computed tomography (CT)-derived atherosclerotic plaque metrics for predicting provocable myocardial ischemia., Background: The association of coronary arterial diameter stenosis with myocardial ischemia is only modest, but cardiac CT provides several other, readily available atherosclerosis metrics, which may have incremental value., Methods: The study analyzed 873 nonstented coronary arteries and their myocardial perfusion territories in 356 patients (mean 62 years of age) enrolled in the CORE320 (Coronary Artery Evaluation using 320-row Multidetector Computed Tomography Angiography and Myocardial Perfusion) study. Myocardial perfusion defects in static CT perfusion imaging were graded at rest and after adenosine in 13 myocardial segments using a 4-point scale. The summed difference score was calculated by subtracting the summed rest score from the summed stress score. Reversible ischemia was defined as summed difference score ≥1. In a sensitivity analysis, results were also provided using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) as the reference standard. Vessel based predictor variables included maximum percent diameter stenosis, lesion length, coronary calcium score, maximum cross-sectional calcium arc, percent atheroma volume (PAV), low-attenuation atheroma volume, positive (external) vascular remodeling, and subjective impression of "vulnerable plaque." The study used logistic regression models to assess the association of plaque metrics with myocardial ischemia., Results: In univariate analysis, all plaque metrics were associated with reversible ischemia. In the adjusted logistic model, only maximum percent diameter stenosis (1.26; 95% confidence interval: 1.15 to 1.38) remained an independent predictor. With SPECT as outcome variable, PAV and "vulnerable" plaque remained predictive after adjustment. In vessels with intermediate stenosis (40% to 70%), no single metric had clinically meaningful incremental value., Conclusions: Various plaque metrics obtained by cardiac CT predict provocable myocardial ischemia by CT perfusion imaging through their association with maximum percent stenosis, while none had significant incremental value. With SPECT as reference standard, PAV and "vulnerable plaque" remained predictors of ischemia after adjustment but the predictive value added to stenosis assessment alone was small., (Copyright © 2019 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: In recent years, flow diverters have provided a promising alternative to treat complex intracranial aneurysms. In this study, we compare a second-generation flow-diverting device (Derivo Embolization Device) with its prototype flow diverter, in the treatment of elastase-induced aneurysms in New Zealand white rabbits., Methods: The Derivo Embolization Device is a self-expanding stent consisting of 48 nitinol wires. The device was implanted across the necks of 17 elastase-induced aneurysms in New Zealand white rabbits. One additional device was implanted in the abdominal aorta of each animal covering the origin of lumbar arteries. Follow-up was performed after 3 months (n = 8) and 6 months (n = 9) under continuous double antiplatelet therapy. Statuses of angiographic and histological aneurysm occlusion as well as patency of branch arteries and neointimal growth were evaluated and compared with its prototype flow diverter., Results: The Derivo Embolization Device provided advanced visibility and flexibility, which led to more accurate navigation and placement. Complete aneurysm occlusion rates were noted in 15 cases (88 %), respectively, compared with 5 cases (28 %) with the first-generation device (p = 0.001). Neointimal growth and diameter stenosis were significantly less with the Derivo Embolization Device and declining after 6 months follow-up in the abdominal aorta. Extreme device oversizing led to distal occlusion of the parent vessel in three cases. Covered branch arteries remained patent throughout the entire period of observation., Conclusions: The Derivo Embolization Device provides excellent occlusion of elastase-induced aneurysms while preserving branch arteries.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and morphological predictors for functionally significant in-stent restenosis (ISR)., Background: Although they have been studied de novo in native coronary artery lesions, the relationships between clinical and morphological characteristics and the hemodynamic significance of ISR are not well understood., Methods: In 175 patients with ISR of a single coronary artery (angiographic stenosis >50%), we compared quantitative coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) with stress myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). A positive SPECT was a reversible perfusion defect in the territory of the ISR artery., Results: Overall, 103 (59%) patients had a positive SPECT. In-segment IVUS minimal lumen area (MLA) was significantly smaller in lesions with positive SPECT compared with negative SPECT (1.7 ± 0.5 mm(2) vs. 2.4 ± 0.8 mm(2), p < 0.001). Stent underexpansion (minimal stent area <5.0 mm(2)) was more common in the positive SPECT group than in the negative SPECT group (52% vs. 32%, p = 0.010). A positive SPECT was seen in 54% (65 of 121) of focal ISR lesions compared with 70% (38 of 54) of multifocal or diffuse ISR lesions as assessed by IVUS (p = 0.039). Independent determinants for a positive SPECT were diabetes (odds ratio [OR]: 2.41; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02 to 5.68; p = 0.046), in-segment angiographic diameter stenosis (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.09; p < 0.001), in-segment IVUS-MLA (OR: 0.30; 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.63; p = 0.001), stent underexpansion (minimal stent area <5.0 mm(2)), (OR: 2.91; 95% CI: 1.19 to 7.07; p = 0.019), proximal location of the IVUS-MLA (OR: 4.62; 95% CI: 1.75 to 12.18; p = 0.002), and a multifocal or diffuse ISR pattern (OR: 2.50; 95% CI: 0.99 to 6.28; p = 0.050). An in-segment angiographic diameter stenosis ≥69.5% (72% sensitivity, 74% specificity, area under the curve = 0.793) and an IVUS-MLA ≤1.9 mm(2) (67% sensitivity, 75% specificity, area under the curve = 0.756) best predicted a positive SPECT; however, the overall diagnostic accuracies were only 73% and 70%, respectively., Conclusions: In lesions with ISR, neither angiography nor IVUS accurately predicted an abnormal SPECT., (Copyright © 2013 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)