Distance from the ostium as an independent determinant of coronary plaque composition in vivo: an intravascular ultrasound study based radiofrequency data analysis in humans.

Aims: Relative plaque composition, more than its morphology alone, is thought to play a pivotal role in determining propensity to vulnerability. Thus, we investigated in vivo whether the distance from coronary ostium to plaque location independently affects plaque composition in humans. This may help explaining the recently reported non-uniform distribution of culprit lesions along the vessel in acute coronary syndromes.

Three-Dimensional Myocardial Perfusion Maps by Contrast Echocardiography.

We evaluated the clinical applicability of a system for three-dimensional (3-D) display of a perfusion map following myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE). The system was used in 12 patients (9 males and 3 females, mean age 52 +/- 10 years) undergoing interventional treatment of chronic total coronary occlusion. In each patient three standard apical views were acquired at baseline with sonicated Iopamidol(R) injections into the left coronary artery (LCA) and into the right coronary artery (RCA).