Can Multimodality Plaque Imaging Identify Vulnerable Plaques and Patients?

In patients with previous myocardial infarction, intravascular ultrasound and near-infrared spectroscopy of nonculprit lesions can provide complementary information that predicts future cardiac events.

Both intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIS) can be used with an intracoronary approach to image plaques, but how accurately would the combination identify vulnerable plaques and patients? This industry-supported study (NCT02171065) involved 898 patients (mean age, 63; 83% men) with recent myocardial infarction (MI). Once treatment of flow-limiting lesions was complete, investigators used a combined IVUS and NIS catheter to identify 3629 nonculprit lesions and their lipid content.

Within 4 years, a major adverse cardiac event (MACE; cardiac death, MI, unstable angina, or progressive angina requiring revascularization or with rapid progression of the lesion) occurred in 112 patients; in 66, MACE was related to unt…

Reviewing Author

Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH, FACC

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology/American Heart Association

Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH, FACC

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology/American Heart Association

Can Multimodality Plaque Imaging Identify Vulnerable Plaques and Patients?

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Reviewing Author