Hepatocyte growth factor and cardiovascular thrombosis in patients admitted to the intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been reported as a marker of atherosclerosis and of thrombi synthesis, but the relationship between HGF and proven coronary thrombi has not been described. The aim of this study was to investigate this relationship in patients with chest pain. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study group comprised 107 patients with chest pain (61 acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 18 unstable angina, 15 stable angina, and 13 others; 65 males, 42 females; 66+/-11 years old). The presence of thrombi was evaluated by angiography, intravascular ultrasonography, angioscopy, and computed tomography. Serum HGF concentrations were measured using a new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum HGF was significantly higher in the patients with AMI (335.0 +/-197.5 pg/ml), unstable angina (269.1+/-152.7 pg/ml), acute aortic dissection (320.3+/-116.5 pg/ml), and pulmonary thromboembolism (292.5+/-101.9 pg/ml), than in those with stable angina (171.2+/-56.1 pg/ml). Serum HGF concentration was also higher in those patients with proven thrombi than in those patients without (326.7+/-189.7 pg/ml vs 226.9+/-110.8 pg/ml). CONCLUSION: Increased serum HGF concentrations correlate with the presence of thrombi in patients with acute coronary syndrome, acute aortic dissection, and pulmonary thromboembolism.     

Detection of coronary atherosclerosis in young adult hearts using intravascular ultrasound.

BACKGROUND. Coronary atherosclerosis has been demonstrated in young adults by postmortem pathology. Angiographic evaluation of coronary disease in young adults is limited by ethical issues and the insensitivity of angiography for detecting early pathology. Catheter-based intracoronary ultrasound has proven useful both in detecting and quantitating coronary disease, but the ultrasound appearance of young, angiographically normal, coronary arteries has not been well defined. METHODS AND RESULTS. Twenty-five subjects were examined with intracoronary ultrasound within 1 month of cardiac transplantation. Mean age of the donor hearts was 28 years (range, 14-43 years). Measurements of an index of intimal thickening were obtained at four left anterior descending coronary artery sites in each patient. All study patients had angiographically normal coronary arteries. Ultrasound in 14 subjects demonstrated a three-layered appearance of the coronary vessel wall with a mean intimal index of 0.16 +/- 0.07. The other 10 subjects, including all donors under the age of 25 years, had coronary vessel wall layers too thin to be imaged separately at the 30-MHz sound frequency. Five subjects had ultrasound evidence of focal intimal thickening greater than 500 microns. The donors of these hearts each had risk factors for coronary artery disease. Two subjects died within 5 weeks of their ultrasound study. Histological measurements of the vessel wall layers were similar to the corresponding ultrasound values. CONCLUSIONS. This study provides a reference for the intravascular ultrasound appearance of young adult coronary arteries and confirms pathology findings that young subjects with angiographically normal vessels have a range of coronary intimal thickening, which includes occasional evidence of focal, early atheromatous lesions.     

Combined mechanical and chemical thrombolysis in an experimental animal model: evaluation by angiography and angioscopy

In an experimental animal model of femoral artery thrombosis, contrast angiography was compared to intravascular angioscopy. Additionally, the effect of mechanical, rotational thrombectomy and the additive benefit of the administration of intravascular streptokinase were assessed by means of both procedures. After external forceps crush injury alone, contrast angiograms were generally normal (6 of 14) or showed minimal luminal irregularity (3 of 14), and 5 of 14 had 30% to 50% stenosis. With angioscopy, none appeared normal, and 14 of 14 showed thrombi layered along the wall, as well as intimal flaps, and 6 of 14 had partially occlusive thrombi (p less than 0.001 angiography vs angioscopy). After 2-hour occlusion and injection of thrombin into the injured segment, angiographic total (5 of 14), subtotal (3 of 14), or partial thrombotic occlusions (5 of 14) were created. Angioscopy showed similar results, except that total occlusions were classed as subtotal occlusions. After rotational thrombectomy, most arteries again appeared normal by contrast angiography (6 of 11) but none were angioscopically normal (p less than 0.006). Streptokinase, administered after rotational thrombectomy in seven arteries, normalized one 30% angiographic stenosis; there were no other angiographic changes. Findings with angioscopy were also unchanged. We conclude that in the diagnosis and treatment of intravascular thrombosis, angioscopy is generally more sensitive in the detection of intravascular thrombi, with the exception of total thrombotic occlusions. Angioscopy was uniquely effective in identifying subintimal flaps, which were never identified by angiography. In this model, streptokinase provided little or no additional thrombolytic benefit to mechanical thrombectomy alone.     

Angiography, angioscopy, and ultrasound imaging before and after percutaneous balloon angioplasty

We report two patients undergoing peripheral percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in whom angiography, angioscopy, and ultrasound imaging were performed before and after balloon angioplasty. The first case with smooth atheroma diagnosed by angiography was found to have unrecognized partially occlusive thrombus by angioscopy. After angioplasty, an intimal tear was identified by angioscopy and ultrasound but it was not seen by angiography. The intravascular ultrasound image showed the tear to extend to the adventitia. In the second case, an apparently smooth intimal surface as imaged by angiography was found by angioscopy and ultrasound to have extensive damage, including subintimal hemorrhage, intimal flaps, and arterial dissection at the angioplasty site. These data suggest that the type of information derived from the three imaging techniques is quite different, and that each may have a specific role in intravascular diagnosis.     

Three episodes of inferior acute myocardial infarction due to thrombotic occlusion of the right coronary artery: a case report

A 77-year-old female with two previous inferior myocardial infarctions was transferred to our medical center with a third inferior acute myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography revealed 99% stenosis with rich thrombus in the distal right coronary artery [Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade 2 flow]. The angiographic appearance of the right coronary artery was similar to the two previous myocardial infarctions. Coronary aspiration was performed and TIMI grade 3 flow was established. To confirm the presence of thrombus, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and coronary angioscopy were performed at pre-discharge. IVUS showed a thrombus-like low-density area at the mid right coronary artery. Red thrombi were observed in the same area using coronary angioscopy. Although warfarin had been prescribed for secondary prevention since the first acute myocardial infarction, both the second and third acute myocardial infarction occurred after cessation of warfarin. Patients with acute myocardial infarction due to thrombotic occlusion, confirmed by IVUS or angioscopy, might be good candidates for permanent warfarin therapy.     

静脉血栓栓塞症大鼠血栓和血管内膜的变化

目的 通过大鼠静脉血栓栓塞症(VTE)模型,观察股静脉血栓形成(DVT)和肺血栓栓塞症(m)时血栓和血管内膜的变化.方法 健康清洁级SD大鼠78只,3～6个月龄,雌雄各半,随机分为DVT组(18只)、DVT-PTE组(54只)及对照组(6只).DVT和DVT-PTE组大鼠均采用显微血管夹阻滞左侧股静脉血流的方法制备DVT模型.DVT组在DVT建模后第1、4、7天分别处死大鼠6只,共3组(D1、D4、D7),行左股静脉病理学检查;DVT-PTE组大鼠在DVT建模后第1、4、7天分别取出左股静脉血栓,注入右股静脉,制备DVT-PTE模型,PTE建模后第1、4、7天分别处死3组大鼠,共9组[D1P1、D4P1、D1P7、D4P1、D4P4、D4P7、D7P1、D7P4及D7P7],行肺组织病理学检查.统计学方法采用卡方检验和方差分析.结果 (1)DVT建模后第1天,模型成功率100%(24/24);大体观股静脉血栓阳性率在第7天[42%(10/24)]明显低于第1天(X2=19.765,P<0.01).DVT模型成功率在D1、D4、D7组分别为100%(18/18)、83%(15/18)、44%(8/18),其中D7组明显低于D1(X2=13.846,P<0.01)和D4(X2=5.900,P<0.05)组.(2)光镜检查:DVT后第1、4、7天,股静脉内分别见红色、混合和机化血栓.以DVT建模后第4、7天的栓子栓塞肺动脉,栓子溶解性降低,D4Pn和D7Pn组[73%(11/15)和100%(8/8)]大体观肺脏血栓阳性率明显高于D1Pn组[39%(7/18)](X2=3.915,P<0.05;X2=8.474,P<0.01).D1P7、D4P4、D7P4和D7P7组非栓塞肺动脉管壁面积与血管总面积比值增加,与对照组比较,均P<0.05.(3)电镜检查血管肇改变:①D1组股静脉内皮细胞间连接断裂,内弹力板裸露;D4组股静脉内皮细胞肿胀、核增大,部分内皮细胞和内弹力板消失;D7组股静脉血管壁结构消失.②以DVT建模后第1、4天的栓子栓塞肺动脉,肺动脉血管内皮细胞第1天发生肿胀、增生、核增大;第4和7天内皮细胞增生,内弹力板增厚,成纤维细胞增生.而以DVT建模后第7天的栓子栓塞肺动脉,在第1天即出现内皮细胞线粒体肿胀和内弹力板消失较为明显,第4和7天中膜增厚,成纤维细胞增生.结论 大鼠DVT-PTE模型肺动脉血栓的阳性率和转归受DVT不同时间栓子的影响;VTE时受累股静脉和肺动脉可出现血管内皮细胞和内弹力板的改变.     

Clinical utility of negative contrast intravascular ultrasound to evaluate plaque morphology before and after coronary interventions

Although intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is used for evaluation of plaque volume and lumen size as well as detection of vessel wall structures after catheter-based interventions, differentiation between the lumen and plaque structures can be difficult. This study attempted to evaluate the efficacy of negative contrast IVUS imaging for assessment of vessel wall morphology after coronary interventions. IVUS studies were performed in 67 lesions in 66 patients before and after coronary interventions. After the baseline ultrasound imaging run, warm 5% glucose solution was injected manually through the guiding catheter into the coronary artery to washout blood from the lumen to avoid speckled reflections from red blood cells (negative contrast). Quantitative measurements were obtained and plaque morphology was assessed for the presence and extent of medial dissections and intimal flaps. There was no difference in each quantitative parameter between baseline images and negative contrast images. The vessel wall boundary was clearly delineated from the lumen, which was defined as effective negative contrast in 51 of 67 lesions (76%). The baseline images revealed plaque dissection in 9 lesions (18%) and an intimal flap in 13 lesions (25%). In addition, 4 dissections (8%) and 16 intimal flaps (31%) were visualized during the infusion of negative contrast. Additional treatment was performed in 4 lesions (8%) based on the images with negative contrast. Negative contrast IVUS was more sensitive in demonstrating a plaque fracture than were baseline images. This method is useful for enhancing the diagnostic capability of IVUS imaging and may influence the decision-making process during interventional procedures.     

Comparison of angioscopy,intravascular ultrasound imaging and quantitative coronary angiography in predicting clinical outcome after coronary intervention in high risk patients

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to identify qualitative or quantitative variables present on angioscopy, intravascular ultrasound imaging or quantitative coronary arteriography that were associated with adverse clinical outcome after coronary intervention in high risk patients.Background. Patients with acute coronary syndromes and complex lesion morphology on angiography are at increased risk for acute complications after coronary angioplasty. Newer devices that primarily remove atheroma have not improved outcome over that of balloon angioplasty. Intravascular imaging can accurately identify intraluminal and intramural histopathologic features not adequately visualized during coronary arteriography and may provide mechanistic insight into the pathogenesis of abrupt closure and restenosis.Methods. Sixty high risk patients with unstable coronary syndromes and complex lesions on angiography underwent angioscopy (n = 40) and intravascular ultrasound imaging (n = 46) during interventional procedures. In 26 patients, both angioscopy and intravascular ultrasound were performed in the same lesion. All patients underwent off-line quantitative coronary arteriography. Coronary interventions included balloon (n = 21) and excimer laser (n = 4) angioplasty, directional (n = 19) and rotational (n = 6) atherectomy and stent implantation (n = 11). Patients were followed up for 1 year for objective evidence of recurrent ischemia.Results. Patients whose clinical presentation included rest angina or acute myocardial infarction or who received thrombolytic therapy within 24 h of procedure were significantly more likely to experience recurrent ischemia after intervention. Plaque rupture or thrombus on preprocedure angioscopy or angioscopic thrombus after intervention were also significantly associated with adverse outcome. Qualitative or quantitative variables on angiography, intravascular ultrasound of off-line quantitative arteriography were not associated with recurrent ischemia on univariate analysis. Multivariate predictors of recurrent ischemia were plaque rupture on preprocedure angioscopy (p < 0.05, odds ratio [OR] 10.15) and angioscopic thrombus after intervention (p < 0.05, OR 7.26).Conclusions. Angioscopic plaque rupture and thrombus were independently associated with adverse outcome in patients with complex lesions after interventional procedures. These features were not identified by either angiography or intravascular ultrasound.     

Catheter-based intravascular ultrasound imaging of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease

Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy is now the treatment of choice for pulmonary hypertension due to chronic pulmonary thromboemboli. A precise assessment of location and extension of these thrombi is important because only proximal chronic pulmonary thromboemboli are accessible to surgery. Because intravascular ultrasound imaging can assess not only arterial luminal size, but also wall thickness, its value as a complement to angiography was assessed in 11 patients aged 35 to 64 years with severe pulmonary hypertension (systolic pulmonary artery pressure, mean +/- standard deviation 70 +/- 19 mm Hg; pulmonary artery resistance, 609 +/- 297 dynes.s.cm-5). Intravascular ultrasound was obtained in 10 of 11 patients and no complication occurred. Intravascular ultrasound identified 10 segments with suspected chronic pulmonary thromboemboli in 7 patients, all confirmed at operation. Nine segments were considered normal, all of which (except 1) were free of chronic pulmonary thromboemboli at operation. Image quality was highly dependent on pulmonary artery size and position of the catheter. Therefore, intravascular ultrasound of pulmonary arteries is feasible and safe in patients with pulmonary hypertension. It may help to assess the location and extension of the pathologic process involving pulmonary arteries.     

Comparison of normal and diseased pulmonary artery morphology by intravascular ultrasound and histological examination

The study was performed to determine the morphological characteristics of normal and diseased pulmonary arteries by ultrasound (intravascular ultrasound, IVUS) and histology. Forty-nine cadaver segments of pulmonary arteries from 16 postmortem patients were imaged in vitro by IVUS and compared to matched histological sections. The pulmonary vasculature of 11 patients with pulmonary hypertension was investigated in vivo by IVUS. In the in vitro study, 34 of a total of 143 histological sections of the segmental pulmonary arteries showed fibrotic wall components; the remaining 109 sections had regular components. Imaged by IVUS, the wall of the regular and fibrotic arteries revealed a single layer histologically, representing the intima, media, adventitia and connective tissue. Adjacent lung tissue could be detected by IVUS and was confirmed by the histological section. In three patients with a history of chronic embolic pulmonary hypertension, IVUS revealed thrombi or a double vessel wall layer. Histologically, the material extracted after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy in two patients showed wall-adherent thrombus features of early organization. In all other patients only a single wall layer was seen. The vessel walls (intima, media, adventitia and connective tissue) of regular and slightly fibrosed pulmonary arteries show only a single layer. Wall-adherent organized thrombi in chronic embolic pulmonary hypertension can be detected by IVUS as a second inner vessel layer. Thus IVUS may represent an additional tool for detecting chronic embolic pulmonary hypertension when the results of pulmonary angiography or computed tomography are not definite.     

Histopathology of primary pulmonary hypertension. A qualitative and quantitative study of pulmonary blood vessels from 58 patients in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Registry

Qualitative and quantitative studies were performed on pulmonary blood vessels in lung tissue obtained by biopsy, pneumonectomy, or autopsy from 58 patients in the Registry of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension sponsored by the Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. In 49 patients (84%), the hypertensive vascular disease involved predominantly or exclusively muscular pulmonary arteries and arterioles. In each of these 49 patients, pulmonary artery medial hypertrophy was observed, and in 48 patients, it was also associated with intimal or luminal lesions. On the basis of the predominant histopathologic features, 25 of the 48 patients were classified as having pulmonary arteriopathy with plexiform lesions characterized by a combination of concentric laminar intimal fibrosis, eccentric intimal fibrosis, and plexiform lesions; in nine of these 25, recanalized thrombi were also present. Pulmonary arteriopathy with thrombotic lesions, defined by the presence of both eccentric intimal fibrosis and recanalized thrombi but without plexiform lesions, was observed in 19 patients. Intimal fibrosis, either concentric or eccentric, without plexiform or thrombotic lesions was found in four patients. Among the remaining nine patients in the Registry, pulmonary veno-occlusive disease was present in seven and chronic pulmonary venous hypertension in one. Pulmonary blood vessels were microscopically normal in a lung biopsy specimen from another patient. In general, patients with plexiform lesions and those with veno-occlusive disease had a much poorer prognosis than patients with thrombotic lesions. The present study shows the existence of several distinct histopathologic patterns of pulmonary vascular disease in individuals with primary pulmonary hypertension diagnosed by standardized clinical and laboratory criteria.     

Intravascular imaging methods for venous disorders

The purposes are to assess the problems associated with intravascular imaging methods such as angioscopy and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and to evaluate their efficacy through the results of our observations. A total of 54 limbs in 53 patients, 50 patients with chronic venous insufficiency and 3 patients with deep vein thrombosis, were diagnosed and operated on using angioscopy (Olympus OES, order made type) and IVUS (Endosonics, model 82700). The imaging catheters were inserted through a branch of the long saphenous vein and the valves and the intraluminal views were observed. By angioscopy, intraluminal views were clearly observed in 98% of all lesions. However, observation became more difficult in iliac veins compared to in femoral and in long saphenous veins (p<0.01). Venous wall and thrombus were detected more by IVUS than by angioscopy (p<0.01), but only 21 valves (24%) were visualized by IVUS among the 88 valves observed by angioscopy. The intravascular imaging method of angioscopy is more suitable for observing valves and intraluminal views compared with IVUS, whereas IVUS is more suitable for observing the cross-sectional venous wall.     

Angioscopic visualization of blood vessel interior in animals and humans

The purpose of this study is to describe the use of angioscopes in flowing bloodstreams of animals and humans, to demonstrate the ability to precisely deliver laser energy to an intravascular target using visual guidance and to determine the information content and spatial content of angioscopy. Angioscopy was performed in 5 living dogs, 16 cadaver vascular segments, and 14 patients at the time of peripheral or coronary bypass surgery. Five canine femoral artery segments received angioscopically directed intravascular Nd:YAG laser irradiation. We were able to precisely direct the laser irradiation to predetermined intimal targets. Gross tissue injury varied from none to carbonization and vascular perforation, depending on incident energy. Using a variety of flexible fiberoptic endoscopes ranging in diameter from 1.5 to 3.7 mm, we were able to visualize intravascular structures including plaque, suture lines, venous valves, and thrombi in living patients. No patient incurred complications of any sort. We conclude that angioscopy using flexible endoscopes can be performed safely, can provide clinically useful information, and may provide a means for delivering visually directed intravascular laser irradiation.     

不稳定性心绞痛患者冠状动脉内粥样斑块的稳定性与血栓形成关系的探讨

目的　应用冠状动脉血管内视镜技术对不稳定性心绞痛(unstableanginapectoris, UA)患者的罪犯血管内粥样斑块的稳定性与血栓形成之间的关系进行探讨,为研究急性冠状动脉综合征(acutecoronarysyndromes, ACS)的发生提供临床病理基础。方法　选择UA患者68例,男性48例,女性20例,年龄40~73(62.4±8 .6)岁,除外心肌梗死后心绞痛和变异性心绞痛患者。上述患者在进行冠状动脉介入性检查和治疗的同时,对其“罪犯”血管进行血管内视镜检查。结果　(1) 68例患者(68支“罪犯”血管)中均观察到粥样斑块(100% ),其中有血栓者63例(92 .7% ),有内膜损伤者46例(67. 7% )。(2)68例冠状动脉粥样斑块者中,黄色斑块者48例( 70 .5% ),淡黄色斑块者18例(26. 5% ),白色斑块者2例(2. 9% )。(3)63例血栓均为附壁性非闭塞性血栓,其中红色或混合性血栓11例(17. 5% ),白色或粉红色血栓52例(82. 5% )。(4)46例内膜损伤者中均可见到血栓形成,其中红色或混合性血栓11例(23.9% ),白色或粉红色血栓35例(76. 1% )。结论　在UP患者中观察到黄色不稳定性斑块破裂及其伴随的血栓形成,是引起UA的病理基础。因此,在黄色斑块破裂之前采取何种治疗措施使其稳定化,是预防ACS的关键。     

Close concordance between pulmonary angiography and pathology in a canine model with chronic pulmonary thromboembolism and pathological mechanisms after lung ischemia reperfusion injury

To investigate the pulmonary angiography and pathology in a canine model with chronic pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). The cylindrical blood clots were selectively introduced into the left (n = 10) or right (n = 20) lower pulmonary arteries of dogs. Pulmonary arteriography (PA) was performed before or after embolization. The values after embolization and baseline of mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, cardiac output had changed. After 1 or 2 weeks’ embolization, local PA demonstrated the abrupt cut-off perfusion defects or webs, bands, and abrupt vascular narrowing. 2 weeks after embolization, the pathology showed that the fibrin networks of the thrombi had multiple recanalization channels, and pulmonary artery had the concentric, lamellar (onion-like) intimal hyperplasia, multilayered, irregular arrangements of endothelial cells, and the infiltration of inflammatory cells. After embolectomy-mediated reperfusion, 2 weeks’ subgroup showed destroyed and incomplete alveolar structures, and a large number of exudative cells, primarily neutrophils, and exudate. There close concordance between pulmonary angiography and pathology in a canine model with chronic PTE. The LIRI mechanisms after embolectomy-mediated reperfusion involve the destroyed, incomplete alveolar structures, and infiltration of inflammatory cells, primarily neutrophils.     

移植心脏冠状动脉血管病尸检病理分析

目的:提高对移植心脏脏冠状动脉血管病病变的认识。方法:对尸检病例心脏进行HE染色并用免疫组织化学染色及EBER原位杂交检测等方法,对浸润淋巴细胞进行病理分析并文献复习。结果:①移植心脏冠状动脉血管病主要病变表现为不同程度,不同部位的冠状动脉内膜弥散性、同心圆样内膜增生、散在淋巴、单核细胞浸润、部分伴脂质沉积、血栓形成及较少钙化;②心肌细胞可表现为局灶变性、坏死及纤维瘢痕形成,部分出现明显心肌纤维化;③血栓可出现于冠状动脉主干及各分枝、附着于心室壁及肺动脉内;④移植心脏冠状动脉血管病可伴有急性细胞排斥反应,浸润淋巴细胞可单纯出现在心肌间质内,也可以表现为增厚冠状动脉血管内膜同时伴发淋巴细胞浸润,多次发生急性细胞排斥反应,可以加重移植心脏冠状动脉血管病的发病。结论:移植心脏冠状动脉血管病变临床不易早期发现,确诊需要冠状动脉血管造影、血管内超声等影像学检查;移植心脏冠状动脉血管病常伴发急性细胞排斥反应。     

The relationship between endothelial function in the brachial artery and intima plus media thickening of the coronary arteries in patients with chest pain syndrome

Endothelial dysfunction precedes the development of clinical atherosclerosis. A decrease in endothelium-derived nitric oxide activity shows impaired vasodilator function and causes arterial intimal hyperplasia or thickening. Others and we have reported the close relation of endothelial function in brachial artery and coronary artery. To compare the flow-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilation (FMD) in brachial artery and the intima+media area in coronary artery, we measured brachial artery vasodilator response following transient occlusion with high resolution ultrasound transducer and intima+media area in coronary arteries with intravascular ultrasound in 25 patients with normal coronary angiograms (age 61.6+/-8.7 years old, men 14 and women 11). FMD was measured at least 7 days after the cessation of all vasodilators. The mean FMD of 25 patients was 3.83+/-2.38%, the mean intima+media area in coronary arteries of 25 patients was 39.9+/-15.5% of total vessel wall. FMD has a close negative relation with the largest percent intima+media area (r=-0.77, p<0.01). Especially, the patients whose FMD was less than 3.83% had larger percent intima+media area than those whose FMD was 3.83% or more (48.7+/-10.7% versus 30.3+/-14.2%, p<0.01). There is an intima+media thickening even in the patients who had normal coronary angiograms, and that the percent intima+media area correlated with FMD. The measurement of FMD is useful for screening the coronary artery intima+media thickening noninvasively. The pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome has been reported to be the plaque rupture even in the patients with normal coronary angiograms. Thus, we must pay much attention in the patients with impaired FMD even in the normal coronary angiograms.     

Histopathologic validation of in-vivo angioscopic observation of coronary thrombus after angioplasty in a porcine model

BACKGROUND: Coronary angioscopy has been reported to be superior to angiography and intravascular ultrasound for detecting intracoronary thrombus. However, in-vivo histopathologic validation of angioscopic detection of intracoronary thrombus had not been performed. OBJECTIVE: To perform histopathologic validation of in-vivo angioscopic detection of coronary thrombus. DESIGN: An experimental, blinded comparison of angioscopy and histopathology. METHODS: Coronary angioscopy was performed from 0 to 14 days after angioplasty in 39 porcine coronary arteries. When thrombus was detected by angioscopy, it was subclassified into white, mixed red-white, or red thrombus according to color. By histopathology the presence of thrombus was determined and subclassified into platelet-rich, mixed platelet-erythrocyte, or erythrocyte-rich thrombus. RESULTS: Angioscopy correctly classified 19 of 21 coronary thrombi (sensitivity 90%) but incorrectly classified nine of 18 arteries without formation of thrombus as having a thrombus (specificity 50%). Positive and negative predictive values were 68 and 82%, respectively. The angioscopic subclassification of thrombus into white, mixed red-white, or red thrombi was not correlated to the corresponding histopathologic morphology (platelet-rich, mixed platelet-erythrocyte, or erythrocyte-rich) of the observed thrombi (chi2 test: P = 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: Angioscopic detection of thrombus in vivo had high sensitivity and negative predictive value but low-to-moderate specificity and positive predictive value. Visual assessment of color of angioscopically detected thrombi seemed not to reflect histopathologic morphology of thrombus according to the definitions used in the present study.     

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction due to possible sequelae of Kawasaki disease in young adults: a case series

Experience of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for young adults with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) due to sequelae of Kawasaki disease (KD) has been extremely limited. In the present report on three young adults (two males and one female; age 20-35 years) with AMI, we performed primary PCI and intravascular ultrasound imaging (IVUS). Case 1 underwent thrombectomy alone in the proximal left circumflex coronary artery, and subsequent IVUS depicted a large aneurysm with an asymmetrically intimal thickening and a residual thrombus in the culprit. Case 2 underwent balloon dilation with adjunctive intracoronary thrombolysis in the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), and IVUS during follow-up coronary angiography (CAG) delineated a regressed giant aneurysm with a markedly intimal thickening in the culprit. Case 3, with past history highly suggesting KD, underwent balloon dilation in the proximal LAD, and follow-up CAG as well as IVUS revealed a neoaneurysmal formation in the culprit. In all of the patients, PCI was angiographically effective at the acute phase without complication. Follow-up CAG performed 3-6 months after the procedure revealed no restenosis in all three cases, but a new coronary aneurysm still remained in case 3. Although case 1 and case 2 had no obvious history of KD, the vessel wall morphology from IVUS closely resembled the coronary sequelae after KD, suggesting that they might have antecedent incomplete KD. These cases suggest that primary PCI against coronary sequelae of KD in young AMI patients might be safe and effective in the short term.     

In vivo quantitative tissue characterization of angiographically normal coronary lesions and the relation with risk factors: a study using integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: Autopsy studies have shown atherosclerotic changes in angiographically normal coronary lesions (ANCL), and conventional intravascular ultrasound shows intimal thickening in these lesions, but cannot differentiate the lipid core. Accurate characterization of ANCL is essential to prevent progression to coronary artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: ANCL (n=120) were analyzed by integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) in 30 patients with stable angina pectoris. Of the 120 arterial segments analyzed by IB-IVUS, 78 (65%) showed lipid cores of 0.69+/-0.35 mm2 with fibrous caps of 200+/-100 microm thick, 44 (37%) had intimal hyperplasia with a thickness of 350+/-100 microm, and 65 (54%) showed fibrosis in the intimal wall without lipid core with a thickness of 450+/-150 microm. The diabetes mellitus (DM) group (n=14) had significantly (p<0.05) bigger lipid cores (0.62+/-0.38 mm2) and thinner intimal hyperplasia (100+/-100 microm) compared with the non-DM group (0.31+/-0.33 mm2, 150+/-150 microm, respectively). The hypertension (HT) group (n=23) had significantly more intimal hyperplasia (150+/-150 microm) compared with the non-HT group (50+/-100 microm). Hyperlipidemia (n=16) or smoking (n=6) did not significantly affect tissue characteristics. CONCLUSION: IB-IVUS showed various types of plaque in ANCL and the plaque characteristics were affected by DM and HT. The results provide new clinical insight into the early stage of human coronary atherosclerosis.