Jorge Dahdal

Background: Symptomatic patients with unilateral obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) identified by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), involving either the right or left coronary artery, typically undergo per-protocol bilateral coronary visualization during invasive coronary angiography (ICA). However, a selective visualization approach may be sufficient. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the accuracy of CCTA in excluding hemodynamically significant coronary stenosis in patients with unilateral CAD and to evaluate whether a CCTA-guided selective ICA strategy can reduce procedure time and contrast agent use. Methods: In this cross-sectional cohort study, 454 patients with clinically suspected stable CAD who underwent CCTA prior to ICA were included. The study population consisted of 190 patients with unilateral obstructive CAD, defined as ≥50% diameter stenosis on CCTA, and an absence of obstructive CAD on the contralateral side. ICA with invasive functional assessment was used as the reference standard. Results: CCTA demonstrated a high accuracy, 97.4% (95% CI: 94–99%), in excluding hemodynamically significant disease in the contralateral arteries without obstructive CAD. Compared to the conventional ICA approach, a CCTA-guided selective visualization strategy resulted in significant reductions in procedure time and contrast agent usage: procedure time and contrast agent usage were reduced by 27% (95% CI: 12.1–47.5%) and 46.8% (95% CI: 27.5–67.0%), respectively. Conclusions: In patients with unilateral obstructive CAD identified by CCTA, a CCTA-guided selective ICA visualization strategy is highly accurate in ruling out hemodynamically significant CAD on the contralateral side. Additionally, this unilateral ICA approach has the potential to reduce both contrast agent usage and procedure time compared to the conventional bilateral visualization strategy.

Aims: To assess the prognostic utility of coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)-derived quantitative plaque metrics for predicting adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Methods and results: The study enrolled 2404 patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) but without a prior history of CAD. All participants underwent CAC scoring and CCTA, with plaque metrics quantified using an artificial intelligence (AI)-based tool (Cleerly, Inc). Percent atheroma volume (PAV) and non-calcified plaque volume percentage (NCPV%), reflecting total plaque burden and the proportion of non-calcified plaque volume normalized to vessel volume, were evaluated. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality and non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI). Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for clinical risk factors and early revascularization, were employed for analysis. During a median follow-up of 7.0 years, 208 patients (8.7%) experienced the primary endpoint, including 73 cases of MI (3%). The model incorporating PAV demonstrated superior discriminatory power for the composite endpoint (AUC = 0.729) compared to CAC scoring (AUC = 0.706, P = 0.016). In MI prediction, PAV (AUC = 0.791) significantly outperformed CAC (AUC = 0.699, P < 0.001), with NCPV% showing the highest prognostic accuracy (AUC = 0.814, P < 0.001). Conclusion: AI-driven assessment of coronary plaque burden enhances prognostic accuracy for future adverse cardiovascular events, highlighting the critical role of comprehensive plaque characterization in refining risk stratification strategies.

Aims: The homogeneity of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) across different myocardial territories in angina with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA) patients is scarcely explored. This study investigates the variability in microvascular resistance reserve (MRR) across the 3 main perfusion territories of the coronary circulation to investigate the homogeneity or dishomogeneity of microcirculatory function. Methods and results: This post hoc analysis of the PACIFIC trials included symptomatic ANOCA patients with [15O]H2O positron emission tomography (PET) and three-vessel invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR). MRR was computed in the three main coronary branches by integrating PET-derived coronary flow reserve and invasive FFR. A total of 155 patients (50% male, age 59 ± 10 years) and 465 vessels (MRR: 3.92 ± 1.21) were included. There were no significant differences in MRR among the three coronary branches. Correlations in MRR among the three coronary branches were good (r = 0.76 to 0.86). The mean difference between MRR measurements in different arteries was small (2.4 to 7.5%), without any consistent directional bias. The overall intra-class correlation coefficient for absolute agreement was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.74–0.85), indicating good single-measure reliability. Approximately 80% (123/155) of patients showed diagnostic concordance of CMD (MRR ≤3.0) across the three vessels. Conclusion: In most ANOCA patients, microvascular function is homogeneously distributed across the three major coronary territories. Single-artery testing may suffice in many cases, aligning with guidelines. However, some patients exhibit notable inter-territorial variation, suggesting that multi-vessel evaluation may be prudent in borderline scenarios.

The relationship between fractional flow reserve (FFR), resting full-cycle ratio (RFR), instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR), resting distal pressure/aortic pressure (Pd/Pa), and plaque burden as well as phenotype requires further elucidation. In this single-center cohort study, patients with suspected coronary artery disease who underwent invasive coronary angiography, including routine hyperemic (FFR) and nonhyperemic invasive pressure (Pd/Pa and iFR or RFR) interrogation and computed coronary tomography angiography were prospectively enrolled. Computed coronary tomography angiography was used to assess percentage atheroma volume (PAV), positive remodeling, and low-attenuation plaque. Among 241 patients with 556 vessels, FFR correlated stronger to PAV compared with Pd/Pa (r=-0.56; versus r=-0.43; PP=0.04). Vessels with FFR and Pd/Pa discordancy showed higher PAV in case of abnormal FFR (34% versus 14%; PPP=0.01; and β, -0.02, P=0.10, respectively). None of the invasive pressure measurements was independently associated with positive remodeling. Pressure index discordancy was not associated with positive remodeling or low-attenuation plaque. FFR correlated stronger to plaque burden, as defined by PAV, than nonhyperemic pressure indexes. For plaque phenotype, both FFR and iFR/RFR were independently associated with low-attenuation plaque, whereas none of the invasive pressure indexes was associated with positive remodeling.

Background The diagnostic performance of non-invasive imaging techniques for detecting obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with a history of myocardial infarction or percutaneous coronary intervention has not been comprehensively evaluated. This meta-analysis assesses the diagnostic value of coronary CT angiography (CCTA), CCTA combined with CT perfusion (CCTA+CTP), cardiac MRI (CMR) and single-photon emission CT (SPECT) compared with invasive reference standards. Methods We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library from 2005 to September 2022 for prospective, blinded studies including populations with ≥50% prior CAD. Results We identified 18 studies encompassing 3265 patients, with obstructive CAD present in 64%. The per-patient sensitivity of CCTA (0.95; 95% CI 0.92 to 0.98), CCTA+CTP (0.93; 95% CI 0.84 to 0.98) and CMR (0.91; 95% CI 0.86 to 0.94) was high, while SPECT showed lower sensitivity (0.63; 95% CI 0.52 to 0.73). SPECT had higher specificity compared with CCTA (0.66; 95% CI 0.56 to 0.76 vs 0.37; 95% CI 0.29 to 0.46), but was comparable to CCTA+CTP (0.59; 95% CI 0.49 to 0.69) and CMR (0.69; 95% CI 0.53 to 0.81). The area under the curve for SPECT was the lowest (0.70; 95% CI 0.58 to 0.87), while CCTA (0.91; 95% CI 0.86 to 0.98), CCTA+CTP (0.89; 95% CI 0.73 to 1.00) and CMR (0.91; 95% CI 0.80 to 1.00) showed similar high values. Conclusions In patients with prior CAD, CCTA, CCTA+CTP and CMR demonstrated high diagnostic performance, whereas SPECT had lower sensitivity. These findings can guide the selection of non-invasive imaging techniques in this high-risk population. PROSPERO registration number CRD42022322348.

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) and instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) are invasive techniques used to evaluate the hemodynamic significance of coronary artery stenosis. These methods have been validated through perfusion imaging and clinical trials. New invasive pressure ratios that do not require hyperemia have recently emerged, and it is essential to confirm their diagnostic efficacy. The aim of this study was to validate the resting full-cycle ratio (RFR) and the diastolic pressure ratio (dPR), against [¹⁵O]H₂O positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. A total of 129 symptomatic patients with an intermediate risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) were included. All patients underwent cardiac [¹⁵O]H₂O PET with quantitative assessment of resting and hyperemic myocardial perfusion. Within a 2 week period, coronary angiography was performed. Intracoronary pressure measurements were obtained in 320 vessels and RFR, dPR, and FFR were computed. PET derived regional hyperemic myocardial blood flow (hMBF) and myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) served as reference standards. In coronary arteries with stenoses (43%, 136 of 320), the overall diagnostic accuracies of RFR, dPR, and FFR did not differ when PET hyperemic MBF < 2.3 ml min⁻¹ (69.9%, 70.6%, and 77.1%, respectively) and PET MPR < 2.5 (70.6%, 71.3%, and 66.9%, respectively) were considered as the reference for myocardial ischemia. Non-significant differences between the areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were found between the different indices. Furthermore, the integration of FFR with RFR (or dPR) does not enhance the diagnostic information already achieved by FFR in the characterization of ischemia via PET perfusion. In conclusion, the novel non-hyperemic pressure ratios, RFR and dPR, have a diagnostic performance comparable to FFR in assessing regional myocardial ischemia. These findings suggest that RFR and dPR may be considered as an FFR alternative for invasively guiding revascularization treatment in symptomatic patients with CAD.

Migraine is a chronic neurovascular disease with a complex, not fully understood pathophysiology with multiple causes. People with migraine suffer from recurrent moderate to severe headache attacks varying from 4 to 72 h. The prevalence of migraine is two to three times higher in women compared with men. Importantly, it is the most disabling disease in women <50 years of age due to a high number of years lived with disability, resulting in a very high global socioeconomic burden. Robust evidence exists on the association between migraine with aura and increased incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), in particular ischaemic stroke. People with migraine with aura have an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular death compared with those without migraine. Ongoing studies investigate the relation between migraine and angina with non-obstructive coronary arteries and migraine patients with patent foramen ovale. Medication for the treatment of migraine can be preventative medication, such as beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, antiepileptics, antidepressants, some of the long-acting calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonists, or monoclonal antibodies against calcitonin gene-related peptide or its receptor, or acute medication, such as triptans and calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonists. However, these medications might raise concerns when migraine patients also have CVD due to possible (coronary) side effects. Specifically, knowledge gaps remain for the contraindication to newer treatments for migraine. All cardiologists will encounter patients with CVD and migraine. This state-of-the-art review will outline the basic pathophysiology of migraine and the associations between migraine and CVD, discuss current therapies, and propose future directions for research.