George T. Lau

Lumen Loss in the First Year in Saphenous Vein Grafts Is Predominantly a Result of Negative Remodeling of the Whole Vessel Rather Than a Result of Changes in Wall Thickness

Background— The use of saphenous vein grafts (SVG) in coronary artery bypass surgery is established but little is known of SVG remodeling during the first year in vivo. Methods and Results— The feasibility of measuring total vessel diameter (lumen plus wall), lumen diameter, and wall thickness by a novel computed tomography (CT) method was established in phantom model tubes (r=0.98 for lumen diameter and r=0.98 for wall thickness) and in an initial clinical study of 14 patients correlating CT and intravascular ultrasound measurements of SVG (r=0.88 for total vessel diameter, r=0.85 for lumen diameter and r=0.89 for wall thickness). In a separate group of 42 patients (aged 66±10 years; 36 male, 6 female) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, SVG total vessel diameter, lumen diameter, and wall thickness were determined prospectively with multi-slice CT angiography at 1 and 12 months postoperatively. Mean total vessel diameter decreased from 5.95±0.83 mm to 5.39±0.87 mm, P<0.001 (range, −39% to +8% change). Twenty-six patients (62%) had a decrease of SVG vessel diameter (negative remodeling) >5%. Mean lumen diameter decreased from 3.69±0.66 mm to 3.36±0.68 mm, P<0.001, (range, −40 to +11% change). Surprisingly, mean wall thickness decreased from 1.14±0.27 mm to 1.01±0.21 mm (P<0.001; range, −48 to +33% change). Conclusions— Lumen loss in SVG between postoperative months 1 and 12 is predominantly caused by negative remodeling of the whole vessel rather than to changes in wall thickness. Therapies targeting negative remodeling may be required for optimal maintenance of SVG lumen in the first postoperative year.

Incidence and determinants of myocardial infarction following percutaneous coronary interventions according to the revised Joint Task Force definition of troponin T elevation.

BACKGROUND Elevations in troponin T (TnT) occur frequently following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and are associated with an adverse prognosis. The Joint ESC/ACC/AHA/WHF Task Force have released a proposal for a universal definition of myocardial infarction (MI), including diagnostic criteria for PCI associated MI. This is based on a TnT cut-point of more than three times the 99th percentile (0.03 ng/ml), which better reflects the precision of the assay. Our study investigated the incidence and predictive factors of a PCI associated MI, using the revised definition. METHODS 325 patients were studied following PCI with stenting. TnT was collected at both 8 and 18 h following PCI in patients with either stable or unstable angina and normal baseline TnT levels. Comparison was made of both clinical and procedural characteristics of patients with and without a rise in TnT following intervention, using cut points of 0.01 and 0.03 ng/ml. RESULTS TnT was elevated > or = 0.03 ng/ml in 27% and > or = 0.01 ng/ml in 39% of patients following PCI. Troponin elevation was significantly more likely in those patients who experienced peri-procedural ischemic symptoms or EKG changes, or in whom abciximab was used. The variables associated with a troponin rise showed a greater difference between TnT positive and negative patients when using 0.03 ng/ml compared to 0.01 ng/ml, suggesting that this may be a better definition of PCI-related MI. CONCLUSIONS Approximately one-quarter of low risk patients experience a procedural MI according to the revised definition. Rises in troponin were significantly associated with peri-procedural ischemic symptoms and EKG changes, and abciximab use, consistent with this level of TnT reflecting true myocardial necrosis.