Level of vascular inflammation is higher in acute coronary syndromes compared to chronic coronary disease

Abstract Background Vascular inflammation has been recognized as one of the key factors in pathogenesis acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Peri-coronary adipose tissue (PCAT) attenuation by computed tomography angiography (CTA) emerged a marker specific for artery inflammation. We examined relationship between clinical presentation and assessed PCAT plaque characteristics. Methods Patients with ACS or stable angina pectoris (SAP) who underwent pre-intervention CTA optical coherence (OCT) were enrolled. was measured around culprit lesion proximal 40 mm all arteries. OCT findings compared patients versus SAP. Results Among 471 (ACS: 198, SAP: 273), higher than SAP both at level (−67.5±9.6 Hounsfield unit [HU] vs. −71.5±11.0 HU, p<0.001) vessel (−68.3±7.7 HU −71.1±7.9 p<0.001). The mean 3 arteries also significantly (−68.8±6.3 −70.5±7.1 p=0.007). After adjusting patient characteristics, not only thin-cap fibroatheroma (OR: 2.44; 95% CI: 1.63–3.65) macrophages 2.07; 1.34–3.21) but 1.04; 1.02–1.06) associated ACS. Conclusions plaque, vessel, pan-coronary levels patients. appears to play crucial role development Funding Acknowledgement Type funding sources: None.