IB IVUS

Several studies have reported that elevated triglyceride (TG) levels may be more strongly associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in females than in males. We examined gender differences in the relationship between TG levels and coronary atherosclerosis using integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB IVUS) in CAD patients treated with statins. Three hundred seventy-eight CAD patients (105 females and 273 males) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention using IB IVUS, and who were already receiving statin treatment, were included...

Statins can be differentiated into two types, based on their solubility, which have potentially differing effects on the coronary artery wall. However, suspected differences in statins' effects on plaque composition have not been systemically investigated.Sixty-seven patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were randomly assigned to either atorvastatin (10 mg/day) or rosuvastatin (2.5 mg/day). Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and integrated backscatter (IB)-IVUS, an established tool to quantify each plaque's components, were performed immediately after emergent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)...

Although drug-eluting stents (DESs) reduce the rates of in-stent restenosis (ISR) and subsequent target lesion revascularization, stent fracture (SF) after DES implantation has become an important concern because of its potential association with restenosis and stent thrombosis. We aimed to assess the pathogenic impact of SF on in-stent restenotic neointimal tissue components after DES implantation. We analyzed 43 consecutive patients (14 with SF and 29 without SF) with ISR requiring revascularization after DES implantation between January 2008 and March 2014...

BACKGROUND: There is a residual risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) despite intensive statin therapy for secondary prevention. The aim of this study was to investigate whether coronary plaque regression and stabilization are reinforced by the addition of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to high-dose pitavastatin (PTV). METHODS: We enrolled 193 CHD patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in six hospitals. Patients were randomly allocated to the PTV group (PTV 4mg/day, n=96) or PTV/EPA group (PTV 4mg/day and EPA 1800mg/day, n=97), and prospectively followed for 6-8 months...

The difference in the intraluminal intensity of blood speckle (IBS) on integrated backscatter-intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) across a coronary artery stenosis (i.e., ΔIBS) has previously shown a negative correlation with fractional flow reserve, reflecting an impaired coronary blood flow. Periprocedural myocardial injury (PMI) after coronary stenting has also been associated with coronary circulatory dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between ΔIBS after coronary stenting and PMI...

BACKGROUND: The lipid component of coronary plaques is associated with their vulnerability. The aim of this study was to investigate which coronary risk factors were relevant in predicting serial changes in the lipid component of coronary plaques as evaluated by integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS).Methods and Results:We enrolled 104 patients who underwent IB-IVUS-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and were followed up with repeat IB-IVUS 6 months later...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Disruption of atherosclerotic plaque and distal embolism often cause peri-procedural myocardial injury during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In the present study, we evaluate the association between the characteristics of the target lesion and the amount of debris captured by the filter-type distal protection device. METHODS: We enrolled 120 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome, who underwent coronary stent implantation with a filter-type distal protection device after integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) analysis...

BACKGROUND: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have anti-atherosclerotic and cardioprotective effects in vitro. However, the impact of DPP-4 inhibitors on coronary plaque remains unclear. We sought to assess the effect of sitagliptin on coronary plaque volume (PV) and stabilization in diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: The ESPECIAL-ACS was a prospective, randomized, open-label, parallel group study at 4 Japanese centers to assess the effect of 6-month treatment with sitagliptin on coronary plaque changes in non-culprit lesion in diabetic patients with ACS using serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and integrated backscatter IVUS (IB-IVUS) analysis...

BACKGROUND: Malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL) is considered to play an essential role in plaque destabilization. We aimed to investigate the association between the tissue characteristics of culprit plaque assessed by integrated backscatter (IB)-intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and the serum MDA-LDL levels in patients with stable coronary artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study group consisted of 179 patients undergoing IB-IVUS during elective percutaneous coronary intervention...

Tissue characteristics of coronary plaque have been reported to be associated with cardiovascular events. The stabilization of vulnerable tissue components such as the lipid pool rather than regression of the plaque volume is considered to be of major benefit in the reduction of cardiovascular events. Conventional echocardiography, especially intravascular ultrasound imaging (IVUS), is widely used to determine calcification and the three layers of the arterial wall. However, differentiation of the lipid pool from fibrous tissue using the echo intensity is difficult...

AIM: Because the prevalence of hyperuricemia is lower in females than in males, the association between hyperuricemia and cardiovascular disease has been frequently reported in females. Increased serum uric acid levels are associated with the presence of cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, renal dysfunction, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. However, it is controversial whether hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease in both the genders...

We aimed to design a rapid and reliable method to identify coronary lesions at high risk for the no-reflow phenomenon before elective coronary stent implantation using integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS). The no-reflow phenomenon occurring during elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) worsens patient prognosis, regardless of whether the phenomenon is transient or persistent. We retrospectively studied 353 coronary lesions to identify factors potentially promoting the no-reflow phenomenon, including lesion location and severity...

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the diagnostic performance of optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) for recognition of coronary plaque morphologies and to assess additive values of integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) in detection of vulnerable plaque. BACKGROUND: Precise diagnosis of coronary lesions susceptible to plaque rupture and thrombosis may serve to stratify the risk of future coronary events and to make decisions for appropriate treatment of choice...

Elevated serum uric acid (SUA) level is known to be a prognostic factor in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, the pathogenesis of the relation between SUA level and coronary plaque characteristics has not been fully evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between SUA level and plaque composition of nonculprit lesions in patients with ACS. A total of 81 patients with ACS who underwent intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention were included...

BACKGROUND: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and proteinuria are both important determinants of the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. The aim of the present study was to investigate the independent and combined effects of eGFR and proteinuria on tissue characterization of the coronary plaques of culprit lesions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Conventional intravascular ultrasound and 3-D integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) were performed in 555 patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention...

BACKGROUND: Blood glucose variability is receiving considerable attention as a new risk factor for coronary artery disease. This study aimed to investigate the association between blood glucose variability and coronary plaque tissue characteristics. METHODS: In 57 patients with acute coronary syndrome, integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) and gray-scale IVUS were performed before balloon dilatation or stent implantation in the culprit vessels...

The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between the fractional flow reserve (FFR) values and volumetric intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) parameters derived from classic gray-scale IVUS and integrated backscatter (IB)-IVUS, taking into account known confounding factors. Patients with unstable angina pectoris with the frequent development of vulnerable plaques often showed the discrepancy between the FFR value and the quantitative coronary angiography findings. Our target population was 107 consecutive subjects with 114 isolated lesions who were scheduled for elective coronary angiography...

BACKGROUND: Uremic toxin has emerged as an important determinant of cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between serum uremic toxin and coronary plaque composition on integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS). METHODS AND RESULTS: IB-IVUS was performed in 47 patients with planned treatment for angina pectoris. Non-culprit intermediate plaque analyzed in this study had to be >5 mm apart from the intervention site...

BACKGROUND: Local production of C-reactive protein (CRP) in human coronary arterial plaque was reported as a possible marker for local inflammation and vulnerable plaque. Integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) plaque tissue characterization may detect vulnerable plaque with high local plaque inflammation. Thus, the aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between IB-IVUS-based plaque characteristics and local high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) production in stable and unstable plaque...

Patients with diabetes mellitus are at high risk for developing coronary artery disease (CAD), even if they are treated with statins. Several studies have shown the beneficial effects of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors on the cardiovascular system in an animal model. However, recent clinical trials using DPP-4 inhibitors have shown that these inhibitors fail to reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular events. Therefore, this study will be performed to evaluate the effects of sitagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, on coronary atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes...