Does fractional flow reserve overestimate severity of LAD lesions?

Background: Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) is increasingly used to estimate the severity of coronary stenoses, prior to coronary revascularization. However, it has been suggested that FFR overestimates the severity of Left Anterior Descending (LAD) lesions. Our aim was to verify whether in patients without ischemia on Myocardial Perfusion Imaging, FFR of the LAD is more often abnormal in comparison to FFR of other coronary arteries.

Influence of coronary calcification on hyperemic response during fractional flow reserve measurements.

Aim: During invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) adenosine and nitrates are used to obtain maximal hyperemia. Severe coronary artery calcification (CAC) is associated with impaired vasodilation. We investigated the hyperemic response during FFR in vessels with severe versus mild CAC.

Anatomically and functionally relevant coronary stenoses in patients with normal single-photon emission computed tomography but persistent stable angina.

Aims: Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is widely used for the assessment of coronary artery disease and for decision making regarding revascularization. Concerns about possible false negative findings exist. Our aim was to assess the prevalence of stenoses which are both functionally and anatomically significant in patients referred for invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements following a normal SPECT, because of persistent complaints.

Coronary artery stenoses more often overestimated in older patients: Angiographic stenosis overestimation in elderly.

Background: Angiographic overestimation of coronary artery stenosis severity may result in unnecessary revascularization and is possibly more prevalent with increasing age.

Aim: To identify whether age is an independent clinical predictor for angiographic overestimation of a coronary artery stenosis.

Methods: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) of 335 coronary lesions was performed in 260 consecutive patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Factors associated with deferred lesion failure following fractional flow reserve assessment in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To explore the predictors of deferred lesion failure (DLF) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and lesions with a fractional flow reserve (FFR) >0.80 and to examine whether a predictive relationship between negative FFR values (>0.80-1.

Angiographic underestimation of disease severity in the left anterior descending artery: a fractional flow reserve analysis.

Objectives: This study compared the prevalence of angiographic underestimation of left anterior descending artery (LAD) lesions with non-LAD lesions.

Background: Coronary angiography cannot assess the functional severity of a coronary stenosis. Previous studies suggested that lesions of the LAD are more often angiographically underestimated, but evidence is limited.