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Miyagawa M, Kojima K, Takahashi K, Nakajima Y, Migita S, Mizobuchi S, Tanaka Y, Fukumoto K, Arai R, Morikawa T, Mineki T, Murata N, Sudo M, Fukamachi D, Okumura Y. Association Between Aortic Wall Parameters on Multidetector Computed Tomography and Ruptured Plaques By Nonobstructive General Angioscopy. J Am Heart Assoc 2024; 13:e033233. [PMID: 38497463 PMCID: PMC11010013 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.033233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nonobstructive general angioscopy (NOGA) can identify vulnerable plaques in the aortic lumen that serve as potential risk factors for cardiovascular events such as embolism. However, the association between computed tomography (CT) images and vulnerable plaques detected on NOGA remains unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS We investigated 101 patients (67±11 years; women, 13.8%) who underwent NOGA and contrast-enhanced CT before or after 90 days in our hospital. On CT images, the aortic wall thickness, aortic wall area (AWA), and AWA in the vascular area were measured at the thickest point from the 6th to the 12th thoracic vertebral levels. Furthermore, the association between these measurements and the presence or absence of NOGA-derived aortic plaque ruptures (PRs) at the same vertebral level was assessed. NOGA detected aortic PRs in the aortic lumens at 145 (22.1%) of the 656 vertebral levels. The presence of PRs was significantly associated with greater aortic wall thickness (3.3±1.7 mm versus 2.1±1.2 mm), AWA (1.33±0.68 cm2 versus 0.89±0.49 cm2), and AWA in the vascular area (23.2%±9.3% versus 17.2%±7.6%) (P<0.001 for all) on the CT scans compared with the absence of PRs. The frequency of PRs significantly increased as the aortic wall thickness increased. Notably, a few NOGA-derived PRs were detected on CT in near-normal intima. CONCLUSIONS The presence of NOGA-derived PRs was strongly associated with increased aortic wall thickness, AWA, and AWA in the vascular area, measured using CT. NOGA can detect PRs in the intima that appear almost normal on CT scans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masatsugu Miyagawa
- Division of Cardiology, Department of MedicineNihon University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Keisuke Kojima
- Division of Cardiology, Department of MedicineNihon University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Kurara Takahashi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of MedicineNihon University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Yuki Nakajima
- Division of Cardiology, Department of MedicineNihon University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Shohei Migita
- Division of Cardiology, Department of MedicineNihon University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Saki Mizobuchi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of MedicineNihon University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Yudai Tanaka
- Division of Cardiology, Department of MedicineNihon University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Katsunori Fukumoto
- Division of Cardiology, Department of MedicineNihon University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Riku Arai
- Division of Cardiology, Department of MedicineNihon University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Tomoyuki Morikawa
- Division of Cardiology, Department of MedicineNihon University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Takashi Mineki
- Division of Cardiology, Department of MedicineNihon University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Nobuhiro Murata
- Division of Cardiology, Department of MedicineNihon University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Mitsumasa Sudo
- Division of Cardiology, Department of MedicineNihon University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Daisuke Fukamachi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of MedicineNihon University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Yasuo Okumura
- Division of Cardiology, Department of MedicineNihon University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
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Wen S, Naqvi TZ. 3-D transesophageal echocardiography aids in assessment of embolic stroke due to aortic atherosclerotic plaque: A case series. Echocardiography 2024; 41:e15799. [PMID: 38516862 DOI: 10.1111/echo.15799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of heart disease and stroke. Plaque thickness ≥4 mm in the ascending aorta or aortic arch is strongly correlated with cerebral embolic events and ischemic stroke. However, despite imaging workup, the cause of embolic stroke remains unidentified in many patients. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the preferred echocardiographic method for the evaluation of cardiac source of emboli. 2D TEE imaging evaluates aortic root and aortic arch in a single plane or two planes with biplane imaging. However, 2D TEE often fails to detect mobile or complex components in the ascending aorta and aortic arch plaques. The routine availability of 3D TEE in current ultrasound systems may significantly improve the assessment of aortic plaques as a potential embolic source. In this case series, we present four consecutive patients with stroke who underwent TEE by a single cardiologist for possible cardioembolic source. Some of these patients may have been labelled as "cryptogenic stroke" or "embolic stroke of undetermined source" (ESUS) due to the presence of insignificant or nonmobile ascending aortic or aortic arch plaques on 2D TEE imaging. In our four consecutive patients with ESUS who underwent TEE by a single operator, 3D TEE showed complex aortic arch plaques with ulceration with mobile components and established these plaques as the likely source of embolic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songnan Wen
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Division of Echocardiography, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, USA
| | - Tasneem Z Naqvi
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Division of Echocardiography, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, USA
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Kojima K, Komatsu S, Kakuta T, Fukamachi D, Kimura S, Fujii H, Matsuura M, Dai K, Matsuoka H, Higuchi Y, Ueda Y, Asakura M, Yutani C, Okumura Y, Eikelboom JW, Hirayama A, Kodama K. Aortic plaque burden predicts vascular events in patients with cardiovascular disease: The EAST-NOGA study. J Cardiol 2021; 79:144-152. [PMID: 34521582 DOI: 10.1016/j.jjcc.2021.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-obstructive general angioscopy (NOGA) can be used to diagnose aortic atherosclerotic plaques. We examine the association between the number of aortic plaques detected by NOGA and the risk of subsequent cardiovascular events. METHODS The Evaluation of AtheroScleroTic and rupture events by Non-Obstructive General Angioscopy (EAST-NOGA) was a prospective cohort study of patients with suspected coronary artery disease who underwent NOGA. RESULTS Of the 577 patients who underwent NOGA, 532 (92%) completed the follow-up (median follow-up: 13 months, interquartile range: 12-16). The median number of plaques per person was 6 (interquartile range: 3-12), and 567 (98%) had at least one aortic plaque. During the 13-month follow-up, 38 (7.1%) patients had a primary composite endpoint [including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral artery disease (PAD), or worsening renal function], which was significantly associated with chronic kidney disease, a history of PAD, a lower hemoglobin level, and large numbers of aortic plaques [11 (5-17) vs. 6 (2-11), p = 0.003]. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for the number of aortic plaques predicting composite endpoints revealed that the cut-off value of aortic plaques was 12. After multivariate adjustment, the presence of ≥12 aortic plaques remained a significant predictor for composite endpoint events (hazard ratio 2.53, 95% confidence interval 1.26-5.04, p = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS The number of aortic plaques detected by NOGA may predict subsequent clinical events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Kojima
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Sei Komatsu
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Osaka Gyoumeikan Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tsunekazu Kakuta
- Department of Cardiology, Tsuchiura Kyodo General Hospital, Tsuchiura, Japan
| | - Daisuke Fukamachi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeki Kimura
- Department of Cardiology, Yokosuka Kyosai Hospital, Yokosuka, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Fujii
- Department of Cardiology, Yokohama Minami Kyosai Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | | | - Kazuoki Dai
- Department of Cardiology, Hiroshima City Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Matsuoka
- Department of Cardiology, Ehime Prefectural Imabari Hospital, Imabari, Japan
| | | | - Yasunori Ueda
- Cardiovascular Division, NHO Osaka National Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masanori Asakura
- Department of Clinical Research, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Japan
| | - Chikao Yutani
- Department of Pathology, Amagasaki Central Hospital, Amagasaki, Japan
| | - Yasuo Okumura
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - John W Eikelboom
- The Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Atsushi Hirayama
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhisa Kodama
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Osaka Gyoumeikan Hospital, Osaka, Japan
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Suzuki M, Fujimoto S, Tanaka R. Response to "Ischemic Stroke Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation have a Risk for Aortogenic Embolizations". J Atheroscler Thromb 2021; 28:789-790. [PMID: 34039831 PMCID: PMC8265926 DOI: 10.5551/jat.62890-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Suzuki
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical University
| | - Shigeru Fujimoto
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical University
| | - Ryota Tanaka
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical University.,Jichi Medical University Hospital
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