Coronary disease & ACSResearch article

Comprehensive assessment of vasospastic angina using coronary computed tomography angiography: synergistic value of the presence of myocardial bridge, perivascular inflammation, and myocardial extracellular volume fraction

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc ImagingPublished

  • study
  • consecutive

Authors' conclusion

A multi-parametric CCTA approach potentially identifies patients at high risk for VSA. The significant association of the transmural ECV gradient with VSA suggests that myocardial remodelling imaging provides a novel diagnostic window into the cumulative myocardial impact of vasospasm, independent of active adipose tissue inflammation and the presence of MB.

Study context

Population
Angina with non-obstructive coronary arteries (ANOCA) patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) with a dedicated ECV protocol, followed by an invasive spasm provocation testpatients analysed, 27 diagnosed with vasospastic angina (VSA)
Participants
100 patients
Comparison
CCTA parameters as predictors of VSA
  • VSAn = 27

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Independent predictors of VSA (multivariable logistic regression)
all P < 0.05
Odds ratio (95% CI)P value
transmural ECV gradient
1.12(1.01–1.25)
P < 0.05
presence of myocardial bridging (MB)
3.49(1.25–9.74)
P < 0.05
high FAI-RCA (> −70.95 Hounsfield units [HU])
5.79(2.06–16.30)
P < 0.05

Further findings

Incremental diagnostic value of transmural ECV gradient

integration of transmural ECV gradient provided incremental diagnostic value beyond FAI-RCA and myocardial bridging (MB), as assessed by the Net Reclassification Improvement and Integrated Discrimination Improvement

Patient characteristics

mean age
65.3 ± 11.8 years
male
55%

Original publication

Comprehensive assessment of vasospastic angina using coronary computed tomography angiography: synergistic value of the presence of myocardial bridge, perivascular inflammation, and myocardial extracellular volume fraction. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging. Published 14 July 2026. doi:10.1093/ehjci/jeag181

Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it