The influence of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol on maximal lipid core burden indexing thin cap fibrous atheroma lesions as assessed by near infrared spectroscopy

Abstract

Background: Previous studies suggest that higher plasma concentrations of several lipid molecules are associated with higher lipid core burden index (LCBI) near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) imaging. The aim of this study was to investigate whether an association between plasma lipids depends on plaque morphology (thin cap fibrous atheroma [TCFA] vs. non-TFCA) as measured by near-infrared spectroscopy-intravascular ultrasound (NIRS-IVUS). Methods: Sixty-four patients retrospectively enrolled were diagnosed with stable coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndrome who underwent NIRS-IVUS imaging. Before percutaneous coronary intervention, blood samples were collected for measurement of serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG). Patients were divided into two groups based on maxLCBI 4mm and IVUS imaging. Those with maxLCBI 4mm ≥ 323 were included into TCFA group (n = 35) while others were assigned to the non-TCFA group (n = 29). Results: Thin cap fibrous atheroma lesions were significantly longer than the non-TCFA lesions (25.66

The association between circulating lipoprotein subfractions and lipid content in coronary atheromatous plaques assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy

“…One study demonstrated that the percent change in HDL-C was negatively associated with the percent change in maxLCBI 4mm after 13 months follow-up in patients with acute coronary syndrome or stable CAD [22] . Another study found a negative correlation between HDL-C and maxLCBI 4mm in patients with acute coronary syndrome or stable CAD with a maxLCBI 4mm ≥ 323, but not in patients with a maxLCBI 4mm < 323 [21] . In these two studies, 78 % and 85.7 % of the patients were on statin-therapy, respectively.…”

“…To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the association between a large number of lipoprotein subfractions and lipid content in coronary atheromatous plaques measured as maxLCBI 4mm by NIRS. Although hyperlipidemia, and particularly high levels of LDL-C, is considered a major risk factor for CVD, only a few studies have assessed the correlation or association between coronary lipid content measured as maxLCBI 4mm and traditional lipid measurements in patients with CVD [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] . One study demonstrated that the percent change in HDL-C was negatively associated with the percent change in maxLCBI 4mm after 13 months follow-up in patients with acute coronary syndrome or stable CAD [22] .…”

“…Studies assessing the association between circulating lipoproteins and lipid content in coronary atheromatous plaques, measured as the maximum lipid core burden index within any 4 mm length across the entire lesion (maxLCBI 4mm ), are sparse. To our knowledge, only traditional lipid measurements and Lp(a) have been investigated, with no or weak associations [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] . Whether a more detailed lipoprotein subfraction analysis can identify new biomarkers with stronger associations to coronary plaque lipid content is unknown.…”

Relationship between thrombolysis in myocardial infarction blood flow before percutaneous coronary intervention and the morphological characteristics of culprit vessel plaques in patients with STEMI

“…Furthermore, some findings from OCT studies show that TCFA is one of the characteristics of vulnerable plaques which are prone to rupture in coronary artery disease (31). Recently, TCFA was revealed to be associated with greater plaque burden and plaque volume (32). A study by Araki et al (33) also demonstrated that TCFA is a predictor of subsequent rapid plaque progression (OR=5.85; 95% CI, 2.01-17.03).…”