18 Jan Novel Intracoronary Imaging Quantifies Lipid in Coronary Artery Vessels
MedicalResearch.com Interview Invitation
Dr. Eric Boersma
Associate Professor of Clinical Cardiovascular Epidemiology
Thoraxcenter, Erasmus Medical Center and Cardiovascular Research Institute COEUR, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
MedicalResearch: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Dr. Boersma: Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a novel intracoronary imaging technique.
The NIRS-derived lipid core burden index (LCBI) quantifies the lipid content within the coronary artery wall.
This study was designed to evaluate the prognostic value of LCBI in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing coronary catheterization (CAG).
We learned that patients with high (above the median) LCBI values had 4 times higher risk of coronary events during 1 year follow-up than those with low values.
MedicalResearch: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Dr. Boersma: The key message is that NIRS derived parameters may have prognostic value in coronary artery disease patients undergoing coronary catheterization.
MedicalResearch: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Boersma: Our report is based on 203 patients, which can be considered a small sample.
Therefore, our promising observations warrant confirmation by larger studies with extended follow-up in a broader variety of clinical settings.
Citation:
Near -Infrared Spectroscopy Predicts Cardiovascular Outcome in Patients with CAD
Oemrawsingh RM1, Cheng JM2, García-García HM3, van Geuns RJ2, de Boer SP2, Simsek C2, Kardys I2, Lenzen MJ2, van Domburg RT2, Regar E2, Serruys PW2, Akkerhuis KM2, Boersma E4; ATHEROREMO-NIRS Investigators.
J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014 Dec 16;64(23):2510-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2014.07.998.
Last Updated on January 18, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD