BackgroundThere is limited evidence about vessel wall healing response following implantation of next-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients admitted with a non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). Cumulative data indicate that optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging can optimize percutaneous coronary intervention results and expedite stent endothelialization in the general population but there is lack of data in NSTE-ACS patients.MethodsThe EXPECT study is an investigator-initiated, prospective, randomized trial to assess early vascular healing response following next-generation DES implantation in patients admitted with NSTE-ACS based on OCT guidance and evaluation. Sixty patients are randomized at 1:1:1 ratio to OCT-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with 3-month follow-up OCT imaging (O3 group, n = 20), to angiography-guided PCI with 3-month follow-up OCT imaging (A3 group, n = 20) and to angiography-guided PCI with 6-month follow-up OCT imaging (A6 group, n = 20). The primary endpoint of the study is stent strut coverage rate at 3- or 6- month follow-up in the studied groups. The secondary endpoints of the study include OCT imaging endpoints, clinical endpoints, and molecular biology endpoints at the different time points. The clinical endpoints comprised of major cardiovascular adverse events and individual components. The molecular biology endpoints comprised of lipid levels and the levels of inflammatory indicators.DiscussionThe findings of the EXPECT study are anticipated to provide novel insights into vessel wall healing in NSTE-ACS population following implantation of next-generation DES, underscore the value of OCT imaging in expediting strut coverage in this setting, and explore the potential of an early discontinuation of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in this population.Clinical Trial Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04375319.

Background and hypothesisThe field of coronary artery physiology is developing rapidly and changing the practice of interventional cardiology. A new functional evaluation technique using the instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) has become an alternative to fractional flow reserve. Future research studies need to determine whether physiological indicators play a role in evaluating myocardial perfusion in the catheter room.Materials and methodsThirty-eight patients scheduled for coronary angiography and iFR evaluation underwent a real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RT-MCE) examination at rest. The myocardial perfusion parameters (A, β, and A × β) on the myocardial perfusion curve were quantitatively analyzed using Q-Lab software. Coronary angiography and iFR assessment were completed within 1 week after the RT-MCE examination in all patients. Correlation analysis was used to identify iFR- and MCE-related indicators. The sensitivity and specificity of iFR in the quantitative detection of coronary microcirculation were obtained.ResultsThe correlation coefficients between iFR and A, β, and A × β were 0.81, 0.66, and 0.82, respectively. The cut-off value for iFR was 0.85 for microvascular ischemia detection, while the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of myocardial perfusion were 90.7 and 89.9%, respectively. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve area for iFR was 0.946 in the segments related to myocardial blood flow.ConclusionThe iFR is an effective tool for detecting myocardial microcirculation perfusion, with satisfactory diagnostic performance and a demonstrated role in physiological indices used for the perfusion assessment.

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