Vol 60, No 4 (2004)
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Published online: 2005-12-12
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Measurement of fractional flow reserve in patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease and borderline lesions prevents unnecessary revascularisation procedures

Krzysztof Reczuch, Ewa Jankowska, Artur Telichowski, Adam Porada, Waldemar Banasiak, Piotr Ponikowski
DOI: 10.33963/v.kp.81911
Kardiol Pol 2004;60(4):316-319.

Abstract

Background: Patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD) are selected for percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) or surgical revascularisation. The appropriateness of "ad hoc" PCI of borderline lesions (<70% of lumen diameter) in patients with a multi-vessel CAD has not been proven. However, delayed PCI of another lesion and gaining additional information from non-invasive tests is not a widely accepted strategy. When left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery is one of the affected vessels, selection for surgical revascularisation is most likely.
Aim: To assess long-term outcome in patients with multi-vessel CAD and borderline lesions, including LAD, in whom fractional flow reserve (FFR) in all affected vessels was measured and used for selection for PCI or conservative treatment.
Methods: The study group consisted of 16 patients with stable angina (11 males, mean age 60±9 years) with 34 lesions localised in the main epicardial coronary arteries [LAD / left main (LM) / right coronary artery (RCA) / intermediate branch (IB) / circumflex artery (Cx) - 15/1/5/5/8] of which at least two were borderline stenoses. Each lesion underwent FFR measurement. "Ad hoc" PCI was performed when FFR was <0.75, and conservative therapy was instituted when FFR was >0.75.
Results: Of 34 lesions, in 8 (23%) the FFR value was <0.75 and these lesions were treated with PCI (LAD/IB/Cx - 3/2/3). In the remaining 26 (77%) lesions, FFR was >0.75 and conservative therapy was instituted. During the mean follow-up of 15±6 months (range 6-28 months, median 15 months) in 8 of 9 conservatively treated patients no aggravation of anginal symptoms nor other coronary events were observed. One patient developed acute myocardial infarction due to thrombus occluding a borderline LAD lesion. Of 8 lesions treated with PCI (baseline FFR = 0.63±0.10 vs post-PCI FFR = 0.92±0.08, p=0.0002), in one case an in-stent restenosis in LAD occurred 9 months after PCI. Of a total of 26 lesions which were conservatively treated (mean FFR 0.91±0.05), in 2 (7.7%) the progression of CAD was noted.
Conclusions: In patients with multi-vessel CAD and borderline lesions, FFR measurement identifies those, who can be treated conservatively with a good long-term outcome, and prevents unnecessary PCI.



Polish Heart Journal (Kardiologia Polska)