Coronary plaque characteristics on baseline CT predict the need for late revascularization in symptomatic patients after percutaneous intervention.

OBJECTIVES: To assess pre-procedural plaque characteristics as determined by coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and their associations with late revascularization in symptomatic post-procedural patients.

METHODS: Symptomatic patients with pre-procedural CCTA were prospectively enrolled and referred for invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Plaque characterization was performed on the basis of baseline CCTA data. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with a stepwise selection method was performed to identify independent predictors of late revascularization.

RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients with 134 lesions were included. Late revascularization was performed to treat 15 ISRs and 22 de novo lesions. Lesions with late revascularization showed higher prevalence rates of low-attenuation plaque (LAP) and positive remodelling (PR) (70.3% vs. 23.7% and 86.5% vs. 30.9%; both p < 0.001) at baseline CCTA. However, the incidence of spotty calcification or napkin-ring sign (NRS) was not significantly different between the subgroups. According to ROC curve analysis, PR and LAP showed the largest AUC values for diagnosing lesions with late revascularization (AUC = 0.78 and 0.73, both p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, LAP and PR (odds ratio = 6.30 and 13.94; both p < 0.05) were revealed to be independent predictors for late revascularization.

CONCLUSIONS: LAP and PR observed by baseline CCTA independently predict late revascularization caused by ISR or progression of de novo lesions.

KEY POINTS: • LAP and PR observed by baseline CT are predictors of late revascularization. • NRS and spotty calcification are not associated with late revascularization. • CT plaque characterization is useful in identifying lesions at high risk of late revascularization.