Preventive PCI of Vulnerable Plaques Linked to Fewer Cardiac Events

However, many of the events prevented were subsequent PCIs, so future studies focused on death and myocardial infarction outcomes are needed.

Lipid-rich atherosclerotic coronary plaques (i.e., vulnerable plaques) are the lesions most often implicated in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and sudden cardiac death. Currently, guidelines recommend percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) only in lesions that limit blood flow or have caused an ACS. Whether revascularization of non–flow-limiting vulnerable plaques is safe and effective is unclear.

In the open-label, industry-funded PREVENT trial (NCT02316886), roughly 1600 adults with stable coronary disease or a recent acute coronary syndrome and 1 to 2 non–flow-limiting (fractional flow reserve >0.80) vulnerable coronary plaques were randomized to receive either PCI plus optimal medical therapy or optimal medical therapy alone. Vulnerable…

Reviewing Author

David J. Cohen, MD, MSc

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMedtronic; Edwards Lifesciences; Abbott Vascular; Boston Scientific; St. Francis Hospital

Speaker’s BureauBoston Scientific; ZOLL Medical

Grant/Research SupportEdwards Lifesciences; Abbott Vascular; Boston Scientific; Corvia Medical; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Phillips, Inc.; St. Paul’s Hospital; V-Wave, Inc; ZOLL Medical; CathWorks, ANCORA

Editorial BoardsJACC; American Heart Journal; EuroIntervention; JSCAI; Structural Heart Journal

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology TVT Registry (Co-Chair, Risk Model Development Committee); Cardiovascular Research Foundation (Co-Director, TCT Annual Meeting; Co-Director, New York Valves Annual Meeting)