053 LONGTERM NATURAL HISTORY OF RADIOFREQUENCY INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND IDENTIFIED CORONARY PLAQUES

Introduction Prior studies have shown that virtual-histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) identified thin-capped fibroatheroma (VHTCFA) (figure 1) and plaque burden (PB) >70% are associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). This study examined non-culprit lesion features that predict MACE in long-term follow up and culprit lesion features responsible for myocardial infarction (MI). Table 1 Plaque characteristics Univariate analysis HR (95% CI) Univariate analysis p value Multivariate analysis HR (95% CI) Multivariate analysis p value VHThCFA 1.17 (0.23 to 6.24) 0.86 Total VHTFCA 6.37 (1.45 to 27.94) 0.014 2.18 (0.41 to 11.71) 0.36 Non-calcified VHTCFA 4.01 (0.87 to 18.68) 0.077 2.91 (0.57 to 15.00) 0.20 Calcified VHTCFA 1.51 (0.40 to 5.75) 0.55 Remodelling index 26.82 (0.36 to 1975) 0.13 MLA<4 mm2 3.61 (1.15 to 11.32) 0.028 1.23 (0.24 to 6.22) 0.80 Plaque burden>70% 7.77 (2.06 to 29.28) 0.002 7.77 (2.06 to 29.28) 0.002 Plaque volume (mm3) 1.00 (1.00 to 1.00) 0.34 Necrotic core volume (mm3) 1.00 (0.99 to 1.01) 0.57 NC percentage 1.01 (0.93 to 1.10) 0.79 Methods 170 patients with stable angina (n=100) or MI (n=70) underwent three-vessel VH-IVUS prior to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients were followed for MACE which consisted of death, MI, cerebrovascular event, hospitalisation with unstable angina or unplanned revascularisation. Non-culprit lesion features were tested for association with future MACE, and culprit lesion features were assessed for initial presentation with MI, using univariate and multivariate analysis. Results 30 372 mm of VH-IVUS were analysed and 1096 plaques classified. 45 MACE occurred in 30 patients over a median follow up of 1115 (968–1537) days. These included 3 deaths, 6 MIs, 3 cerebrovascular events, 15 hospitalisations due to unstable angina, 3 unplanned coronary bypass operations and 15 unplanned PCI. By univariate analysis, non-culprit VHTCFA (HR=7.37, p=0.014), MLA<4 mm2 (HR=3.61, p=0.028) and PB>70% (HR=7.77, p<0.001) were associated with future non-restenotic MACE on long-term follow up (table 1). By multivariate analysis PB>70% (HR=7.77, p<0.001) remained independently associated with MACE. On univariate analysis, multiple culprit lesion features were associated with initial presentation with MI (table 2), including total and calcified VHTCFA, remodelling index, PB>70%, MLA <4 mm2, plaque rupture and thrombus. By multivariate analysis, PB>70% (OR (OR)=6.32, p<0.001), thrombus (OR=9.03, p<0.001) and MLA<4 mm2 (OR=3.01, p=0.02) were independently associated with MI. Interestingly, culprit lesion calcified VHTCFA were associated with initial MI (OR=2.59 (1.61–4.16), p<0.001), whereas non-calcified VHTCFA were more likely to be associated with future MACE HR=4.01 (0.87–18.68), p=0.077. Conclusion Despite the dynamic nature of coronary plaques, non-culprit VHTCFA, MLA<4 mm2 and PB>70% were associated with future MACE on long-term follow up, with PB>70% being independently associated. These same features in culprit lesions (amongst others) were associated with MI presentation, emphasising their biological importance. Interestingly, non-calcified VHTCFA are more likely to be associated with future MACE, whereas it is the calcified variant that is associated with MI presentation. This may represent a phenotypic transformation in the VHTCFA from non-calcified to calcified which could reflect multiple healed plaque rupture events (figure 2). This theory requires further investigation. Table 1 Non-culprit lesion features associated with future MACE VHThCFA (VH-IVUS thick-capped fibroatheroma), VHTCFA (VH-IVUS thin-capped fibroatheroma), MLA (minimum luminal area), NC (necrotic core), HR, CI Table 2 Plaque characteristics Univariate analysis OR (95% CI) Univariate analysis p value Multivariate analysis OR (95% CI) Multivariate analysis p value VHThCFA 0.84 (0.44 to 1.60) 0.59 Total VHTFCA 3.05 (1.78 to 5.23) <0.001 Non-calcified VHTCFA 1.18 (0.66 to 2.10) 0.58 Calcified VHTCFA 2.59 (1.61 to 4.16) <0.001 Remodelling index 28.05 (5.53 to 142.25) <0.001 MLA<4 mm2 8.86 (5.18 to 15.14) <0.001 3.01 (1.52 to 5.96) 0.002 Plaque burden>70% 15.41 (8.80 to 27.01) <0.001 6.32 (3.23 to 12.37) <0.001 Plaque volume (mm3) 1.004 (1.002 to 1.005) <0.001 Thrombus 20.29 (5.58 to 73.76) <0.001 9.03 (1.60 to 50.98) 0.013 Ruptured plaque 6.77 (2.09 to 21.92) 0.001 Table 2 Culprit lesion features associated with MI presentation OR Figure 1 VH-IVUS thin-capped fibroatheroma (VHTCFA). Figure 2 VH-IVUS thick-capped fibroatheroma (VHThCFA). Note that this fibroatheroma has two distinct layers (arrows) of necrotic core (red) and dense calcium (white), perhaps representing two temporally distinct plaque rupture events that have now healed.