Cardiac calcium score on 2D echo: correlations with cardiac and coronary calcium at multi-detector computed tomography

Reproducibility of semi-quantitative assessment of aortic valve calcification and valve motion on echocardiography: a small-scale study

BACKGROUND

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common degenerative valve disease in high income countries. While hemodynamic metrics are commonly used to assess severity of stenosis, they are impacted by loading conditions and stroke volume and are often discordant. Anatomic valve assessments such as aortic valve calcification (AVC) and valve motion (VM) during transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) can offer clues to disease severity. The reliability of these semi-quantitatively assessed anatomic imaging parameters is unknown.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study of semi-quantitative assessment of AVC and valve VM on TTE. TTEs representing a range of AS severities were identified. The degree of calcification of the aortic valve and the degree of restricted VM were assessed in standard fashion. AVC scores and valve motion were assessed by readers with varied training levels blinded to the severity of AS. Correlation and inter-reader reliability between readers were assessed.

RESULTS

420 assessments (210 each for AVC and VM) were collected for 35 TTEs. Correlation of AVC for imaging trainees (fellows and students, respectively), ranged from 0.49 (95% CI 0.18-0.70) to 0.62 (95% CI 0.36-0.79) and 0.58 (95% CI 0.30-0.76) to 0.54 (95% CI 0.25-0.74) for VM. Correlation of anatomic assessments between echocardiographer-assigned AVC grades was r = 0.76 (95% CI 0.57-0.87)). The correlation between echocardiographer-assigned assessment of VM was r = 0.73 (95% CI 0.53-0.86), p < 0.00001 for both. For echocardiographer AVC assessment, weighted kappa was 0.52 (0.32-0.72), valve motion weighted kappa was 0.60 (0.42-0.78).

CONCLUSION

There was good inter-reader correlation between TTE-based semi-quantitative assessment of AVC and VM when assessed by board certified echocardiographers. There was modest inter-reader reliability of semi-quantitative assessments of AVC and VM between board certified echocardiographers. Inter-reader correlation and reliability between imaging trainees was lower. More reliable methods to assess TTE based anatomic assessments are needed in order to accurately track disease progression.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

STUDY00003100.

Inactive Matrix Gla Protein in Relation to Renal and Cardiac Functions and Cardiac Valvular Calcification Among Type 2 Diabetes Patients

Background

Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is a robust innate suppressor of the detrimental process of vascular calcification in the human body.

Objectives

The interrelationship between circulating MGP levels and renal and cardiac dysfunction, besides echocardiographic calcification score (ECS) was investigated in a sample of type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients.

Methods

The study included 130 subjects. They were 95 patients with T2D and 35 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Patients were further subdivided into 52 T2D patients without DKD (eGFR ⩾ 60 ml/minute/1.73 m²) and 43 T2D persons with DKD (eGFR > 60 ml/minute/1.73 m²). Serum MGP levels, determined by ELISA, renal function tests, lipid profile, and echocardiography were studied in all participants.

Results

Significantly elevated circulating inactive MGP level was noted in individuals having T2D compared to controls. It correlated negatively with eGFR and left ventricular (LV) diastolic and systolic functions and positively with indices of LV hypertrophy. ECS was significantly increased in both T2D groups compared to controls and in DKD group compared to the diabetic group without DKD. A significant positive correlation was observed between inactive MGP and ECS.

Conclusion

Serum inactive MGP may contribute to the development of DKD and to the associated process of cardiac valvular calcification. It may be a beneficial diagnostic marker for early prediction of cardiac calcification and preclinical LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction in T2D patients, especially in those complicated with DKD.

An echocardiography-derived calcium score as a predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events in peritoneal dialysis patients-A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

An echocardiography-derived calcium score (ECS) has been shown to predict cardiovascular (CV) mortality in the general population but has not been utilized in the dialysis population.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study including 125 prevalent PD patients. Two blinded and independent echocardiographers determined the ECS for each subject at baseline. The primary outcome was the three-point major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) which is a composite outcome comprising CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and non-fatal stroke. The secondary outcome was all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

The mean age was 61 ± 13 years. The median follow-up duration was 40 months (range 1-50). Seventy six (60.8%) of the subjects had diabetes mellitus (DM). The median duration of dialysis was 32 (IQR 16-54) months. The incidences of MACE and all-cause mortality were 13.0 per 100 patient-years and 18.3 per 100 patient-years. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified the following three independent predictors of MACE: ECS (HR 1.253/unit increase in ECS, 95% CI 1.014-1.547, p = .036), DM (HR 2.467, 95% CI 1.014-6.005, p = .047) and pre-existing cardiovascular disease (CVD) (HR 2.441, 95% CI 1.261-4.728, p = .008); and the following two predictors of all-cause mortality: pre-existing CVD (HR 2.156, 95% CI 1.251-3.714, p = .006) and serum albumin (HR 0.887/g/L increase in serum albumin, 95% CI 0.839-0.937, p < .001).

CONCLUSION

The ECS appears to be a significant predictor of MACE in PD patients independently of DM and pre-existing CVD.

Transthoracic Echocardiography: Beginner's Guide with Emphasis on Blind Spots as Identified with CT and MRI

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the primary initial imaging modality in cardiac imaging. Advantages include portability, safety, availability, and ability to assess the morphology and physiology of the heart in a noninvasive manner. Because of this, many patients who undergo advanced imaging with CT or MRI will have undergone prior TTE, particularly when cardiac CT angiography or cardiac MRI is performed. In the modern era, the increasing interconnectivity of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) has made these images more available for comparison. Therefore, radiologists who interpret chest imaging studies should have a basic understanding of TTE, including its strengths and limitations, to make accurate comparisons and assist in rendering a diagnosis or avoiding a misdiagnosis. The authors present the standard TTE views along with multiplanar reformatted CT images for correlation. This is followed by examples of limitations of TTE, focusing on potential blind spots, which have been placed in seven categories on the basis of the structures involved: (a) pericardium (thickening, calcification, effusions, cysts, masses), (b) aorta (dissection, intramural hematoma, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer), (c) left ventricular apex (infarcts, aneurysms, thrombus, apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), (d) cardiac valves (complications of native and prosthetic valves), (e) left atrial appendage (thrombus), (f) coronary arteries (origins, calcifications, fistulas, aneurysms), and (g) extracardiac structures (primary and metastatic masses). Online supplemental material and the slide presentation from the RSNA Annual Meeting are available for this article . ^©RSNA, 2021.

The Relationship between Advanced Oxidation Protein Products, Vascular Calcifications and Arterial Stiffness in Predialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are increased in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is likely that the accumulation of uremic toxins resulting in increased oxidative stress (OS) is a major contributing factor, but no clear link has been identified. The purpose of this research is to establish if advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) levels in the serum of predialysis patients are a contributing factor to vascular calcification and increased arterial stiffness. Materials and Methods: After obtaining the informed consent, 46 predialysis patients (CKD stages G3-G5) were included in the study. In order to identify vascular calcifications, hand and pelvic radiographs were performed. Valvular calcifications were identified using cardiac ultrasound. AOPP were measured using a commercially available ELISA kit. The relationships between serum AOPP values and biochemical parameters relevant in the evaluation of CKD patients were analyzed. In addition to identifying the differences in AOPP levels between patients with/without vascular or valvular calcifications, the research focused on describing the relationship between OS and arterial stiffness assessed by oscillometric pulse-wave velocity (PWV) measurement. Results: No significant relationship between serum AOPP and vascular or valvular calcifications was highlighted, but significant correlations of AOPP with C-reactive protein (p = 0.025), HDL-cholesterol levels (p = 0.04), HbA1c (p = 0.05) and PWV values (p = 0.02) were identified. Conclusions: The usefulness of (OS) measurement in clinical practice remains debatable; however, the relationship between AOPP and arterial stiffness could be valuable in improving cardiovascular risk assessment of patients with CKD.

Correlation between echocardiographic calcium score and coronary artery lesion severity on invasive coronary angiography

OBJECTIVES

The direct correlation between Echocardiographic non-coronary calcium score (ECS) and lesion severity on invasive coronary angiography (ICA) is not reported. The aim of the present study was to find the correlation between ECS and Gensini score.

METHODS

One hundred seventy patients aged ≥18 years posted for clinically indicated ICA were included. All the patients underwent standard transthoracic echocardiography. ECS and Gensisni scores were calculated. The primary outcome measure was to find a correlation of ECS with Gensini score, whereas the secondary outcome measure was to correlate ECS with traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease. The Chi-square/Fisher exact test was used to compare qualitative variables. Spearman's correlation analysis was used for assessing the correlation between ECS score and the Gensini score. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to detect the cut-off value of the ECS score.

RESULTS

The correlation of total ECS with Gensini score was positive and statistically significant (r = 0.550, p-value < 0.0001). As ECS increased, the Gensini score increased. ECS value of >1 detected CAD with 56.5% sensitivity, 79.5% specificity. Eight-nine percent of patients who had ECS >1, had Gensini score ≥18, whereas 44.3% of patients who had ECS ≤1, had Gensini score ≥18. The patients with ECS >1 had significantly higher Gensini scores than the patients with ECS ≤1.

CONCLUSIONS

The correlation of total ECS with Gensini score was positive and statistically significant.

Cardiovascular Calcification as a Marker of Increased Cardiovascular Risk and a Surrogate for Subclinical Atherosclerosis: Role of Echocardiography

The risk prediction of future cardiovascular events is mainly based on conventional risk factor assessment by validated algorithms, such as the Framingham Risk Score, the Pooled Cohort Equations and the European SCORE Risk Charts. The identification of subclinical atherosclerosis has emerged as a promising tool to refine the individual cardiovascular risk identified by these models, to prognostic stratify asymptomatic individuals and to implement preventive strategies. Several imaging modalities have been proposed for the identification of subclinical organ damage, the main ones being coronary artery calcification scanning by cardiac computed tomography and the two-dimensional ultrasound evaluation of carotid arteries. In this context, echocardiography offers an assessment of cardiac calcifications at different sites, such as the mitral apparatus (including annulus, leaflets and papillary muscles), aortic valve and ascending aorta, findings that are associated with the clinical manifestation of atherosclerotic disease and are predictive of future cardiovascular events. The aim of this paper is to summarize the available evidence on clinical implications of cardiac calcification, review studies that propose semiquantitative ultrasound assessments of cardiac calcifications and evaluate the potential of ultrasound calcium scores for risk stratification and prevention of clinical events.

Calcium Pattern Assessment in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis Via the Chou's 5-Steps Rule

BACKGROUND

Progression of aortic valve calcifications (AVC) leads to aortic valve stenosis (AS). Importantly, the AVC degree has a great impact on AS progression, treatment selection and outcomes. Methods of AVC assessment do not provide accurate quantitative evaluation and analysis of calcium distribution and deposition in a repetitive manner.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to prepare a reliable tool for detailed AVC pattern analysis with quantitative parameters.

METHODS

We analyzed computed tomography (CT) scans of fifty patients with severe AS using a dedicated software based on MATLAB version R2017a (MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA) and ImageJ version 1.51 (NIH, USA) with the BoneJ plugin version 1.4.2 with a self-developed algorithm.

RESULTS

We listed unique parameters describing AVC and prepared 3D AVC models with color pointed calcium layer thickness in the stenotic aortic valve. These parameters were derived from CT-images in a semi-automated and repeatable manner. They were divided into morphometric, topological and textural parameters and may yield crucial information about the anatomy of the stenotic aortic valve.

CONCLUSION

In our study, we were able to obtain and define quantitative parameters for calcium assessment of the degenerated aortic valves. Whether the defined parameters are able to predict potential long-term outcomes after treatment, requires further investigation.

Multifocal cardiovascular calcification in patients with established cardiovascular disease; prevalence, risk factors, and relation with recurrent cardiovascular disease

Aims

The aim is to investigate (multifocal) cardiovascular calcification in patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD), regarding prevalence, risk factors, and relation with recurrent CVD or vascular interventions. Coronary artery calcification (CAC), thoracic aortic calcification (TAC) (including ascending aorta, aortic arch, descending aorta), mitral annular calcification (MAC), and aortic valve calcification (AVC) are studied.

Methods

The study concerned 568 patients with established CVD enrolled in the ORACLE cohort. All patients underwent computed tomography. Prevalence of site-specific and multifocal calcification was determined. Ordinal regression analyses were performed to quantify associations of risk factors with cardiovascular calcification, and Cox regression analyses to determine the relation between calcium scores and recurrent CVD or vascular interventions.

Results

Calcification was multifocal in 76% (N = 380) of patients with calcification. Age (per SD) was associated with calcification at all locations (lowest OR 2.17; 99%CI 1.54–3.11 for ascending aorta calcification). Diabetes mellitus and systolic blood pressure were associated with TAC, whereas male sex was a determinant of CAC. TAC and CAC were related to the combined endpoint CVD or vascular intervention (N = 68). In a model with all calcium scores combined, only CAC was related to the combined outcome (HR 1.39; 95%CI 1.15–1.68).

Conclusion

Cardiovascular calcification is generally multifocal in patients with established CVD. Differences in associations between risk factors and calcification at various anatomical locations stress the divergence in pathophysiological pathways. CAC is most strongly related to recurrent CVD or vascular interventions independent of traditional risk factors, and independent of heart valve and thoracic aorta calcification.

Stress Echocardiography: Need to Optimize its Appropriate Use in Suspected Angina and a Review of Available Additional Tools for its Clinical Application in 2018: First do no Harm! Second do it at the Highest Possible Accuracy

There is a need to reassess the most appropriate indications for stress echocardiography in the current era, in patients with suspect or known coronary artery disease (CAD), and also the most helpful additional parameters that can be easily calculated in clinical practice to increase the known suboptimal sensitivity for obstructive CAD of this test. The current review tries to clarify what is and what should be the proper role for functional testing in general, but specifically regarding modern stress echocardiography in the current practice, for suspected CAD and/or atypical chest pain. Few candidate additional parameters beyond wall motion assessment are here suggested to improve diagnostic accuracy of stress echocardiography, and pertinent literature is briefly reviewed, together with a more personal view of the author regarding the characteristics of each parameter, as far as ease of acquisition, cost, and true diagnostic or prognostic clinical usefulness are concerned. The reviewed additional parameters, which can be acquired during stress echocardiography, are Doppler coronary flow reserve in the left anterior descending artery, cardiac calcium score, global longitudinal strain, ventricular elastance, and contrast myocardial perfusion. Each of them finds a potential place in the current practice or may find a place in the future practice of stress echocardiography.

Differential incremental value of ultrasound carotid intima-media thickness, carotid plaque, and cardiac calcium to predict angiographic coronary artery disease across Framingham risk score strata in the APRES multicentre study

AIMS

According to recent data, more accurate selection of patients undergoing coronary angiography for suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) is needed. From the Active PREvention Study multicentre prospective study, we further analyse whether carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), carotid plaques (cPL), and echocardiographic cardiac calcium score (eCS) have incremental discriminatory and reclassification predictive value for CAD over clinical risk score in subjects undergoing coronary angiography, specifically depending on their low, intermediate, or high class of clinical risk.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In eight centres, 445 subjects without history of prior CAD but with chest pain of recent onset and/or a positive/inconclusive stress test for ischaemia prospectively underwent clinically indicated elective coronary angiography after cardiac and carotid ultrasound assessments with measurements of cIMT, cPL, and eCS. The study population was divided into subjects at low (10%), intermediate (10-20%), and high (>20%) Framingham risk score (FRS). Ultrasound parameters were tested for their incremental value to predict CAD over FRS, in each pre-test risk category. No significant difference could be appreciated between the discrimination value of FRS and Diagnostic Imaging for Coronary Artery Disease score for the presence of CAD. eCS or cPL demonstrated significant incremental prediction over FRS, consistently in the three FRS categories (P < 0.01); this applied to both discrimination and reclassification, with the exception of high-risk subjects, in whom cPL was apparently not incremental over FRS, and eCS was only of borderline significance for better discrimination.

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasound eCS and cPL assessments were significant predictors of angiographic CAD in patients without prior CAD but with signs or symptoms suspect for CAD, independently and incrementally to FRS, across all pre-test risk probability strata, although in high-risk subjects, only eCS maintained an incremental value. The use of cIMT was not significantly incrementally useful in any FRS risk category.