Relationship Between Calcified Plaque Burden, Vascular Inflammation, and Plaque Vulnerability in Patients With Coronary Atherosclerosis
Authors' conclusion
Greater calcium burden is associated with a lower level of vascular inflammation and plaque vulnerability.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with CAD who had both CT angiography and optical coherence tomography
- Participants
- 578 patients
- Exposure
- Calcified plaque burden (CPB) tertiles vs no calcification at the culprit lesion
- Outcome
- PCAT attenuation (vascular inflammation) and OCT-derived vulnerable plaque features
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Highest CPB tertile: significantly lower pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) attenuation of culprit vessel vs the other groups
- Prevalence of plaque vulnerability features (lipid-rich plaque, macrophage, microvessel) lowest in highest CPB tertile
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Independent associations with CPB (patients with calcification)
- Higher age, statin use and lower PCAT attenuation independently associated with CPB
Original publication
Relationship Between Calcified Plaque Burden, Vascular Inflammation, and Plaque Vulnerability in Patients With Coronary Atherosclerosis. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. Published 4 September 2024. doi:10.
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