Detection of monosodium urate depositions and atherosclerotic plaques in the cardiovascular system by dual-energy computed tomography.

AIM: The study aimed to explore the relationship between urate deposition and surrounding atherosclerotic plaques, and to confirm the contribution of urate deposition to the development of coronary atherosclerosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS: The present study employed Dual-energy CT (DECT) material separation technology through calcium score scan to access the presence of MSU crystal deposition in coronary atherosclerotic plaques in patients with clinically suspected coronary heart diseases undergoing DECT. DECT showed that among 872 patients, 441 had plaques in coronary arteries; the incidence of plaque was 50.6 %. The patients were divided in the atherosclerotic plaque vs. non-plaque groups. There were significant differences in age, sex, blood pressure, blood glucose, serum creatinine, and history of gout and hyperuricemia between the plaque and non-plaque groups (all P < 0.05). Among the patients with coronary plaques, there were 348 patients (78.9 %) with simple atherosclerotic plaque (AP), 8 (1.8 %) with simple urate depositions (UD), and 85 (19.3 %) with urate depositions and atherosclerotic plaques (UDAP). The multivariable analysis showed that urate deposition was independently associated with plaques after adjustment for age, sex, blood pressure, blood glucose, serum creatinine, history of gout, and history of hyperuricemia (OR = 13.69, 95%CI: 7.53-22.95, P = 0.035). UPAP patients had significantly higher coronary calcium scores than AP patients [210.1 (625.2) AU vs 58.2 (182.5) AU, P < 0.001] Urate deposition (16.7 mm3 ) positively correlated with plaque calcification (73.8 mm³) in UPAP patients (r = 0.325, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Patients with gout or a history of hyperuricemia were more likely to exhibit UDAP. Urate deposition was independently associated with plaques.