Mechanisms of Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Nonobstructive Coronary Artery Disease: Results From the Optical Coherence Tomography Study

Maksymilian P. Opolski, Mateusz Spiewak, Magdalena Marczak, Artur Debski, Paul Knaapen, Stefan P. Schumacher, Adam D. Staruch, Kajetan Grodecki, Zbigniew Chmielak, Hubert Lazarczyk, Krzysztof Kukula, Pawel Tyczynski, Jerzy Pregowski, Maciej Dabrowski, Jacek Kadziela, Elzbieta Florczak, Anna Skrobisz, Adam Witkowski

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Abstract

Objectives: This study sought to assess the presence and morphological features of coronary plaques on optical coherence tomography (OCT) as the causes of myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). Background: Although coronary atherosclerosis has been postulated as a potential mechanism of MINOCA, the interaction between disrupted coronary plaques and myocardial injury remains unknown. Methods: In a prospective study, consecutive patients with MI but without significant coronary stenosis (≥50%) at angiography underwent OCT and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with late gadolinium-enhancement (LGE). The infarct-related artery (IRA) was identified by localization of ischemic-type LGE. Results: Thirty-eight MINOCA patients (mean age 62 ± 13 years, 55% female, 39% with ST-segment elevation) were enrolled. Maximal diameter stenosis was 35% by angiography, and 5 patients (13%) had normal angiogram results. Plaque disruption and coronary thrombus were observed in 9 patients (24%) and 7 patients (18%), respectively. Sixteen of 31 patients (52%) undergoing CMR showed LGE. Ischemic-type LGE was present in 7 patients (23%) and was more common in patients with than without plaque disruption (50% vs. 13%, respectively; p = 0.053) and coronary thrombus (67% vs. 12%, respectively; p = 0.014). In the per-lesion analysis, the IRA showed significantly more plaque disruption (40% vs. 6%; p = 0.02), thrombus (50% vs. 4%; p = 0.014), and thin-cap fibroatheroma (70% vs. 30%; p = 0.03) than the non-IRA. Conclusions: Plaque disruption and thrombus are not uncommon in MI without obstructive coronary stenoses at angiography and may be associated with the presence and location of ischemic-type myocardial injury on CMR. OCT may be valuable in identifying atherosclerotic etiology in individuals with MINOCA. (Optical Coherence Tomography in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction and Nonobstructive Coronary Artery Disease [SOFT-MI]; NCT02783963)
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2210-2221
JournalJACC: Cardiovascular Imaging
Volume12
Issue number11P1
Early online date2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2019

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