Detection by near-infrared spectroscopy of large lipid cores at culprit sites in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and unstable angina.
This study was performed to assess the lipid burden of culprit lesions in non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (non-STEMI) and unstable angina (UA).
A recent intracoronary near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) study showed 85% of STEMI culprit lesions have a maximum lipid core burden index in 4-mm (maxLCBI(4mm))?=?400. Whether culprit lesions in non-STEMI and UA are characterized by a similarly large lipid burden is unknown.
We studied 81 non-STEMI and UA patients undergoing culprit vessel NIRS imaging before stenting. Culprit segments were compared to all nonoverlapping 10-mm nonculprit segments for maxLCBI(4mm). Culprit segments in non-STEMI and UA were compared for the frequency of maxLCBI(4mm) =?400.
Among 81 patients (53.1% non-STEMI, 46.9% UA), non-STEMI culprit segments had a 3.4-fold greater maxLCBI(4mm) than nonculprits (448?±?229 vs 132?±?154, P?
Notes
Comment In: Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2015 Nov 15;86(6):1022-326541802